2022-04-15 20:45:01
ter Stegen was one of the first players to go the Camp Nou to train yesterday. He stared at the stands for few seconds and was stunned.
• His reaction was even more disbelieving when he heard a massive whistle as he went towards the goalpost.
ter Stegen continued to train amid the loud whistles and boos for ten minutes. By this time the stadium was reverberating.
• He then returned to the dressing room and informed his teammates: "This is not the Camp Nou, they have changed it for us!".
Xavi and some of his staff members quickly went out and poked their head out of the dressing room tunnel.
• They found out that ter Stegen was correct and they were surprised as well. Eintracht Frankfurt fans were spread all over the stands.
Quickly, Xavi then called Jordi Cruyff to ask what was happening.
• Jordi told the coach that he was as surprised everyone else and that he was going to make some calls to try to get some explanations.
Xavi returned to the dressing room and made his team aware of what they were going to find by saying: "It's not a normal situation, but it is what it is. We are going to play as if it's a final, with half of our fans and the other half of the rival."
The Barça players then left the dressing room, with the feeling that someone had given the Camp Nou to the rival.
• "We have the enemy at home!", said a heavyweight to a colleague. They could not believe what was happening. It was shocking.
And the worst was yet to come. Eintracht's goals were being celebrated as if they were playing at Deutsche Bank Park, with the Camp Nou stands packed with some 30000 German fans, many of whom were heavily drunk.
At the half-time break, the distraught faces of the players clearly marked the absolute disappointment and shock they were experiencing.
• It was no longer that the Germans were just louder, but that they seemed to be the only ones making the noise.
Xavi tried to encourage his team by saying: "I know you are disappointed, but we have to look forward. It can't be an excuse."
• The team had finished the first half with their own home stadium cheering them trailing 0-2 to the opponents Eintracht.
But Xavi's encouragement was useless. The team was also affected by the referee's decisions and Pedri's injury. There were way too many enemies to overcome.
• Barça lost 2-3 and it was ridiculously a celebratory occasion at the Camp Nou.
Via:
fansjavimiguel
736 views17:45
B
