Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Vidal blasts Barca management on and off pitch

Written by 
Published in Soccer
Monday, 31 August 2020 05:06

Arturo Vidal has hit out at Barcelona, criticising the club's management on and off the pitch, and hinted that he would be open to a return to Serie A amid links with Inter Milan.

The Chile midfielder, 33, is one of the players Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu and new coach Ronald Koeman are willing to let go this summer.

- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)

Vidal featured in Barcelona's 8-2 Champions League quarterfinal thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich, and hinted at the reasons for that defeat in an interview with Daniel Habif on YouTube.

"Barcelona have to change their way of thinking," he said. "Football has evolved a lot, the DNA is being left behind, other teams are improving in other ways. Football is now more physical, it's about more strength and speed, and technique sometimes becomes less important.

"In the end you pay the price when you face an organised team, a team that has a winning mentality, with players who prepare themselves physically, and who have a strong playing system. That ends up costing you when you're weak mentally and in terms of energy. That's what happened."

Vidal also criticised Barca's recent squad planning and transfer strategy, after sporting director Eric Abidal resigned earlier this month to be replaced by Ramon Planes.

"Barcelona have to change a lot of things. A team that I think is the best in the world can't have 13 professional players and the rest be youngsters," he said, referring to their threadbare squad towards the end of last season. "Every team has 23 players to fight for a place, to grow and get better every day. When they don't advance, when you think that with your DNA you can always win, you're very mistaken."

Vidal joined Barcelona from Bayern in 2018 and before that spent four seasons at Juventus, winning four Serie A titles.

He has been heavily linked with a reunion with his coach there, Antonio Conte, now at Inter -- and suggested he would also be willing to link up with former teammate Andrea Pirlo, now in charge of Juve.

"He was incredible as a player. Imagine him as a coach," he said. "If he or Juventus call me, I'd be happy, but you have to stay calm. If it happens, it happens. I've got a lot of affection for Juventus and Andrea."

Read 301 times

Soccer

Mo Salah glum on Liverpool future: 'More out than in'

Mo Salah glum on Liverpool future: 'More out than in'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMohamed Salah has said he is yet to receive a formal contract offer...

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice -- with one goal in each half -- a...

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRúben Amorim said Manchester United will have to "suffer for a long...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams sustained season-ending te...

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsScotty Pippen Jr. already had plenty of fond memories of watching h...

Baseball

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Chris Woodward has been named first-base coach by th...

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

EmailPrintRico Carty, who won the 1970 National League batting title when he hit a major-league-best...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated