Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has criticised Barcelona following their UEFA Champions League elimination by Atlético Madrid, insisting the Spanish side have only themselves to blame for the defeat rather than refereeing decisions.
Barcelona were knocked out despite a 2-1 win in the second leg on Tuesday night. However, Atlético’s 2-0 victory in the first leg meant the Spanish giants progressed 3-2 on aggregate after a tightly contested quarter-final tie.
The second leg saw Barcelona take control early before Atlético mounted a comeback to overturn the deficit and secure qualification. Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman played a decisive role, scoring a key goal as Diego Simeone’s side booked their place in the next round.
Post-match discussions, however, centred on refereeing decisions, with Barcelona expressing frustration over calls across both legs, including claims of inconsistency after disciplinary decisions went against them.
Reacting to those complaints, Mikel Obi delivered a blunt assessment, arguing that Barcelona’s exit was due to a lack of efficiency rather than officiating.
“A lot of FC Barcelona fans won’t like what I’m about to say, but it’s the truth. You dominated the ball the entire game just to do absolutely nothing with it, and then you shout ‘robbery’ when reality hits you,” Mikel told Mundo Deportivo.
