Barcelona finding high expectations hard to meet

Posted Wednesday, September 14, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

BARCELONA, Spain (AP)—Hyped as not just the world’s best team but perhaps one of the greatest of all time, Barcelona is finding the challenge of living up to expectations rather difficult early in the new season.

Barca opened the defense of its Champions League title with a disappointing 2-2 draw despite dominating AC Milan at the Camp Nou. The result came three days after a late defensive collapse allowed Real Sociedad to recover from two goals down to draw 2-2 in the Spanish league.

Alexandre Pato took advantage of a makeshift Barcelona defense to score after 24 seconds on Tuesday but Pedro Rodriguez and David Villa scored to put Barcelona in control. So Thiago Silva’s injury-time equalizer left the Catalans stunned.

Right back Daniel Alves, who played in a defense featuring midfielders Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano in the center, said the result made the team look “silly.”

“There’s no explanation to what happened,” Busquets said. “The truth is our morale took a hit after not winning but you can’t do anything about that. We need to forget about this game and get working.”

Midfielder Xavi Hernandez believed that after dominating with 70 percent possession and taking 13 shots on goal, the result was “unfair.”

“It’s like a cold shower, especially considering how we played,” the Spain international said. “We played well but we have to be more intense in those determining moments and finish off the game.”

Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati was sharp as a determined Lionel Messi fired in eight shots—two more than Milan did all night.

But Pato’s quick goal—the fifth fastest in Champions League history—and Thiago’s late finish led to questions about the players’ mental strength.

“I’m not in the players’ heads so I can’t know if it’s from a lack of concentration,” said coach Pep Guardiola, who has guided the club to 12 major trophies in his three full seasons to become the club’s most successful coach. “We have to do a little more to be the best in all competitions. We did all we were supposed to do but we’re still left with this bitter taste.”

Barcelona next hosts Osasuna in the domestic league. Guardiola’s team already trails rival Real Madrid by two points following the lapse against Sociedad.

Barca will be without Andres Iniesta, who injured his leg against Milan and is out for one month, and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez, who is sidelined for up to two months.

Captain Carles Puyol returned from injury to appear as a second-half substitute against Milan, but fellow central defender Gerard Pique is still out with a calf injury.

Pato’s pace and touch exposed Barcelona’s decision not to make a single defensive signing during the transfer window despite Puyol’s long-term absence.

“I’m not worried,” Guardiola said. “If people are, we’ll try to convince them otherwise, but I have no doubts.”