lionel-messi-sportstiger

Spanish giants Barcelona crashed out of the UEFA Champions League for the second consecutive season after losing three of their five games in the group stage. Following their second successive Europa League qualification, Catalan defender Gerrard Pique's old remark on Lionel Messi's transfer to PSG resurfaced on the social media.

After legendary forward Lionel Messi's transfer to French champions Paris Saint Germain in the summer of 2021, Pique reportedly told media that the record seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's 'absence wont affect them'.

Barcelona faced their second consecutive UCL elimination after they lost 3-0 against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Since Messi left the Spanish side, the Blaugranas failed to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages while Barcelona qualified in every season for 17 years of the Argentine's career at the Camp Nou.

Pique told reporters,  "Psychologically we know that when he is there we are stronger but we cannot allow his absence to affect us. It makes a big difference to have or not to have him but we have enough cover so as not to worry about whether he is there or not."

His old remark has resurfaced on social media as fans are blaming the defender for Barcelona's current form in the UCL particularly. Check some viral tweets:

Barcelona have managed to win just three games in the Champions League since the Argentine wizard left the club for his transfer to PSG. Out of those three games, the Catalan giants defeated Dynamo Kyiv twice and Viktoria Plzen in this season's only victory.

After failing to qualify for the knockout stage in the last season, Barcelona were eliminated from the Europa League quarterfinals after failing to win both legs against Eintracht Frankfurt. The German club held the Spanish side on a 1-1 draw at home before beating them 3-2 at the Camp Nou.