Unbelievable: Bayern makes Barca plead for ‘Messi’

In what can aptly be described as thorough and historical humiliation, Bayern Munich brought Barcelona to its kneels by trashing them 8-2 in Friday’s Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon.

Thomas Mueller and Philippe Coutinho both scored twice as the German double winners hit Barca in a merciless display that may likely jeopardise Lionel Messi’s future in Spain.

For Bayern Munich, this win forebodes a potential clash against Manchester City for a place in the final.

However, Barcelona’s embattled coach Quique Setien has offered no indication that he would resign in the immediate aftermath of Friday’s 8-2 Champions League humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich, as club president Josep Maria Bartomeu promised to ‘take decisions’ in the coming days.

‘It’s too soon to think about whether or not I will continue,’ Setien asserted. ‘It doesn’t depend on me. There needs to be a wider reflection, taking into account the situation and the importance of this defeat which is so painful.’

Defender Gerard Pique called for sweeping changes at the Camp Nou in the wake of the defeat, the worst in Barcelona’s distinguished European history.

Setien was already under huge pressure, despite only being appointed as the successor to Ernesto Valverde in January, with Barcelona having relinquished the Spanish title on his watch, finishing second to Real Madrid in La Liga.

They were hoping to make up for a disappointing domestic campaign in the ‘Final Eight’ in Lisbon but were instead utterly outclassed by Bayern at the Estadio da Luz.

Speaking to Spanish television station Movistar Plus, Bartomeu said: ‘Now is not the time for decisions, it is the time to apologise to the members, the Barcelona fans, because it was not a good day for them’.

Setien described the defeat ‘tremendously painful’ and hinted that he knew what was coming.

‘I am aware of what such a defeat means. I think what happens today needs to be analysed with a bit more perspective,’ he said.

‘The credibility of a coach is diminished when this happens, clearly. That is obvious, but that does not bother me right now.’