Former France midfielder Emmanuel Petit has outlined why he believes Barcelona have no realistic chance of lifting the UEFA Champions League title this season.
Petit argued that the Catalan side’s overreliance on teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and their defensive instability make them unfit for Europe’s biggest prize.
Speaking in comments, Petit dismissed Barcelona’s prospects on the continental stage despite acknowledging that they remain competitive domestically.
According to the former World Cup winner, “Barça can compete for La Liga, but not for the Champions League, no way. Does anyone think they can win that title with that defence? Impossible.”
Petit pointed to Barcelona’s recent Champions League performance against Inter Milan as evidence of their shortcomings. He highlighted the team’s vulnerability at the back, referencing their inability to manage high-pressure knockout games:
“We saw it against Inter. How can you concede 7 goals in a Champions League semi-finals? Some may say they scored 6 goals, but that is not enough for me.”
He described the current Barça setup as a risky gamble centered around a single player:
“Barcelona today are like a casino: all the bets are on Lamine Yamal. Barcelona have to rely on Lamine Yamal today.”
Petit added that while Barcelona boast talented footballers, the squad lacks the world-class leadership and star power of previous eras, making it unfair to expect Yamal to carry the team.
“They have quality players, but not world-class stars like Lionel Messi. Lamine Yamal can’t win the Champions League on his own. With all due respect, Messi could not do it without Xavi, Iniesta and Puyol.”
His comments further intensify ongoing debates around Barcelona’s squad balance, defensive issues, and dependence on young players heading into the remainder of the season.
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