Champions League: Barcelona fans blame Araujo and Olmo, while Flick points fingers at the referee

It was mad at times, it was infuriating, and it was entertaining.

Although Barca lost another Champions League semi-final, they did so by giving it their all and were only let down by a player who doesn’t deserve the armband: Ronald Araujo.

Not considered good enough to start by Hansi Flick, the Uruguayan, who has courted other teams over the past 12-18 months, showed exactly why Inigo Martinez is generally preferred in his stead.

After the most epic of comebacks from 2-0 down - the second time in a week, Barca have done so against Inter - Araujo’s tardiness in not getting the goal side of Francesco Acerbi - at 37, the oldest man on the pitch - allowed the defender to equalise in injury time.

Inter’s fourth could also have been avoided. Araujo was right there but just stood statuesque rather than charging down the ball or, at the very least, throwing out a leg.

He just watched as the ball whizzed past Wojciech Szczesny.

Lest we forget it was the Uruguayan centre-back who got himself red-carded against Paris Saint-Germain in 2023/24, killing Barca’s chances of progression in the tournament last season.

It’s hard to fault the collective as, unlike in previous huge UCL ties where the Catalans have allowed three-goal leads to slip, they battled until they were dead on their feet.

On another night, Yann Sommer wouldn’t have saved a hatful of certain goals, Lamine Yamal wouldn’t have hit the post, and Barca would’ve deserved their place in the final.

As it is, after shipping another four goals, meaning they’ve let in 24 in their 14 UCL games in 2024/25, it wasn’t to be. And it’s no surprise, no team to have allowed such a high goals-against average (1.71 per game) has reached the final of the tournament.

Another European campaign that will be looked upon as what might’ve been.

If there is any consolation whatsoever to such an energy-sapping loss ahead of another El Clasico, it’s that most of those who pulled on the lime green jersey could’ve done nothing more on the night.

Frenkie de Jong and Lamine Yamal were particularly impressive, and even Gerard Martin had one of his best games for the club. And don’t forget Eric Garcia, who scored a goal he will never forget.

Ultimately, all their efforts were in vain, however, and perhaps, this game has put the final nail in the coffin as far as Ronald Araujo’s future at the club goes.

With Los Blancos coming to town at the weekend, there’s no time for Barca to feel sorry for themselves either. Lose that and the cat is put amongst the pigeons in La Liga too.

Another Barca star has come in for some altogether heavy criticism.

The player in question? Dani Olmo.

Midfielder Olmo was responsible for surrendering possession weakly in the buildup to Inter’s opener, directly at fault for the goal.

Amid what has been an underwhelming all-round showing, the Spanish international, in turn, has been targeted in ruthless fashion online, amid mounting calls for Olmo to be hauled off at the interval.

Head coach Hansi Flick was very proud of the performance produced by his squad.

“I’m disappointed but not with the players and their performance. They tried everything, and that’s just the way it is. We are out, but next year we will try again and try to make the whole club and the fans happy. Inter also play and are a great team. They defend very well and have good strikers.

“We will learn. It’s a progression. We want to keep learning. We don’t have much time to train. Next season we will be back.”

It was a rather controversial night at the San Siro, with Barcelona feeling particularly aggrieved at the performance of referee Szymon Marciniak. Flick admitted that he has some frustrations, but he chose not to delve too much into the matter.

“Some decisions were 50-50, and they have always gone to Inter. That’s football. We have to accept it. I’m very proud of my team. Sometimes you think that some of the referee’s decisions are unfair. But we have to accept it and start again next season. Winning the Champions League is one of our objectives and making our fans happy. They have supported us very well. We will be back next season.

“I think about it, about the refereeing decisions, but I don’t want to talk about it. It’s not fair to my team, who did a huge job. I don’t like to talk about the referee. I’ve told him what I think, but I’m not going to say it here.”