Three Takeaways from a shameful UCL quarterfinal performance against Barcelona

Brace yourself, this article contains few compliments for players on management after such an embarrassing defeat
FC Barcelona v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Champions League
FC Barcelona v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Champions League | Anadolu/GettyImages
2 of 4

The European Campaign is over

If it wasn’t already obvious, it should be. The prospect of overturning a four goal deficit, even in the Westfalenstadion, is impossible. I usually try to be optimistic, but we need to win by four just for extra time, and this is a Barcelona squad who haven’t lost this year. Yes, Borussia Dortmund have played some of their best football in recent years as underdogs, but that did NOT happen against Barcelona. 

I want to believe there is a chance of a semifinal birth, but I’m being realistic here: It’s not happening. Borussia Dortmund and Niko Kovač should treat the return leg as a dead rubber and offer some of the youngsters minutes against a World-Class opponent, while resting the starts needed to push for Europe domestically. Any belief in advancement from this stage of Champions league is simply naïve.