FC Bayern München lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final first leg – is the tie already settled? World Champion Jérôme Boateng was annoyed about conceding so late on in the match. DFB.de caught up with the defender to get his reaction to the game and to discuss next Tuesday’s return leg (20:45) at the Allianz-Arena.
Question: Mr Boateng, your team conceded three goals in the closing stages of the game. How disappointing is the defeat?
Jérôme Boateng: We matched them for 70 minutes. Barcelona certainly had more of the game but we’ve made a mistake and conceded very unnecessary goals. We were too far apart and that shouldn’t happen.
Question: Do you think that tonight has confirmed that it’s not easy to keep Lionel Messi at bay for 90 minutes?
Boateng: You can’t keep Messi out of the game for 90 minutes. We did really well to limit his influence for the first 70 but then you have to continue to defend as a team. After falling behind, which shouldn’t happen in the first place, you can’t then allow the other team to further increase their advantage.
Question: In your opinion, why did the team capitulate?
Boateng: I believe that one explanation for it is that, just like in the game against Dortmund (DFB Cup semi-final), is that we gave it away. If you concede a goal, which is annoying in itself, you can’t then let the opposition grab a second and third so easily.
Question: The defence was resolute for the large majority of the match.
Boateng: It worked quite well; we also changed it up slightly. In total, we certainly had less possession but then we also gave the ball away too easily on numerous occasions, which is asking for trouble and criminal against a team like Barcelona. Nevertheless, we defended well as a team for a large part of the tie. As I said, it’s a great shame that we then fell apart at the end and shipped so many goals.
Question: What do you make of Barcelona’s attacking force?
Boateng: As seen before, they’re world class. We defended well as a team for long periods, although Barça definitely had clear-cut chances.
Question: What does it take to diminish such a prolific attack, including Messi?
Boateng: You can’t keep tabs on such a quality individual. You can only manage to reduce their threat as a team and, as shown by the closing stages, that certainly takes a lot out of you.
Question: What are your thoughts ahead of the second leg on Tuesday?
Boateng: We need to stand together as a team and try to win the return leg. It’s a real shame and disappointing that we lost 3-0 after putting in such a solid performance for the first 70.
Question: Is it possible to overturn Barcelona’s 3-0 lead?
Boateng: I, along with the whole team, would certainly like to manage that. However, this is Barcelona that we’re talking about and they’re a different team to all the others. We have, however, nothing to lose and need to throw everything we’ve got at them to try and turn it around. Our aim has to be to win the second leg. If we have the right approach going into the game, I believe that we perhaps have a glimmer of hope. It’s obviously extremely tricky to turn the tie on its head against such a team. The 3-0 loss is completely different to the 3-1 deficit against Porto.
Question: After being crowned Bundesliga Champions and missing out on the DFB Cup Final, where does this rank in your season?
Boateng: It’s very disappointing. It’s a real shame that, just like against Dortmund, we gave the game away. After 70 minutes, you wouldn’t have thought that the opposition would run out 3-0 winners. The aim in the second leg has to be to play well as a team, give it absolutely everything we’ve got and try to win.
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FC Bayern München lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final first leg – is the tie already settled? World Champion Jérôme Boateng was annoyed about conceding so late on in the match. DFB.de caught up with the defender to get his reaction to the game and to discuss next Tuesday’s return leg (20:45) at the Allianz-Arena.
Question: Mr Boateng, your team conceded three goals in the closing stages of the game. How disappointing is the defeat?
Jérôme Boateng: We matched them for 70 minutes. Barcelona certainly had more of the game but we’ve made a mistake and conceded very unnecessary goals. We were too far apart and that shouldn’t happen.
Question: Do you think that tonight has confirmed that it’s not easy to keep Lionel Messi at bay for 90 minutes?
Boateng: You can’t keep Messi out of the game for 90 minutes. We did really well to limit his influence for the first 70 but then you have to continue to defend as a team. After falling behind, which shouldn’t happen in the first place, you can’t then allow the other team to further increase their advantage.
Question: In your opinion, why did the team capitulate?
Boateng: I believe that one explanation for it is that, just like in the game against Dortmund (DFB Cup semi-final), is that we gave it away. If you concede a goal, which is annoying in itself, you can’t then let the opposition grab a second and third so easily.
Question: The defence was resolute for the large majority of the match.
Boateng: It worked quite well; we also changed it up slightly. In total, we certainly had less possession but then we also gave the ball away too easily on numerous occasions, which is asking for trouble and criminal against a team like Barcelona. Nevertheless, we defended well as a team for a large part of the tie. As I said, it’s a great shame that we then fell apart at the end and shipped so many goals.
Question: What do you make of Barcelona’s attacking force?
Boateng: As seen before, they’re world class. We defended well as a team for long periods, although Barça definitely had clear-cut chances.
Question: What does it take to diminish such a prolific attack, including Messi?
Boateng: You can’t keep tabs on such a quality individual. You can only manage to reduce their threat as a team and, as shown by the closing stages, that certainly takes a lot out of you.
Question: What are your thoughts ahead of the second leg on Tuesday?
Boateng: We need to stand together as a team and try to win the return leg. It’s a real shame and disappointing that we lost 3-0 after putting in such a solid performance for the first 70.
Question: Is it possible to overturn Barcelona’s 3-0 lead?
Boateng: I, along with the whole team, would certainly like to manage that. However, this is Barcelona that we’re talking about and they’re a different team to all the others. We have, however, nothing to lose and need to throw everything we’ve got at them to try and turn it around. Our aim has to be to win the second leg. If we have the right approach going into the game, I believe that we perhaps have a glimmer of hope. It’s obviously extremely tricky to turn the tie on its head against such a team. The 3-0 loss is completely different to the 3-1 deficit against Porto.
Question: After being crowned Bundesliga Champions and missing out on the DFB Cup Final, where does this rank in your season?
Boateng: It’s very disappointing. It’s a real shame that, just like against Dortmund, we gave the game away. After 70 minutes, you wouldn’t have thought that the opposition would run out 3-0 winners. The aim in the second leg has to be to play well as a team, give it absolutely everything we’ve got and try to win.
