While pre-match press conferences usually offer very little in terms of drama and headlines, Arturo Vidal might be regretting the comments he made prior to Bayern Munich's 8-2 demolition of Barcelona in their incredible Champions League quarter-final.
Going into the game, Vidal downplayed the chances of his former side by stressing that Bayern weren't playing against a Bundesliga side, "they are playing against the best team in the world".
When asked about Lothar Matthaus' claim that Bayern would only fail to reach the semi-final if they make huge mistakes, the Chilean midfielder said: "I know Bayern's players and what's said has come from outside and is not what [the players] think. They have a lot of confidence but they're not playing against a Bundesliga team on Friday, they're up against Barcelona, the best team in the world.
"I understand the criticism. But we are the best team in the world. That wasn't reflected on the pitch in La Liga and we missed out on the title, but if we connect we can beat anyone. That is why I say we are the best and we have to show it against Bayern," he added.
❝QUOTABLE❞ | @kingarturo23 pic.twitter.com/rUuYRrhtzm
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 14, 2020
Granted, one season doesn't diminish the incredible achievements of Barcelona over the last decade or detract from the talents of players like Messi and De Jong. However, heading into the game, Bayern won 26 of their last 27 competitive matches, drawing the other. They also secured a domestic double.
Barca, meanwhile, now have their first trophy-less season since 2007-08.
Speaking on Virgin Media at half-time, Kerr was asked about Vidal's pre-match comments and the former Republic of Ireland manager said: "I would describe it now as the highest form of spoofology. Players don't say anything very interesting before the match. They haven't shown themselves to be a team that are good enough. They've confirmed what we've said, they're an ageing team that are getting destroyed by a younger team."
In the immediate aftermath of the match, only Brian Kerr could strike a comparison between what unfolded in Lisbon with an 8-2 match between Cork Celtic and St Patrick's Athletic.
However, Kerr also described the defeat as an embarrassment for everyone associated with Barcelona.
"The last two years were embarrassing for Barcelona - beaten by Roma 3-0 and then beaten by Liverpool from 3-0 up - but this is humiliation. For a club of that status who have spent €900m, I think, in the last few seasons, trying to get back to the level they were at in 2015. This is an absolute humiliation, I feel sorry for some of the players. But you've got to look at the whole picture. Consistently bad recruitment on players that haven't done it - Dembele, Griezmann, Coutinho, and then he ends up scoring for Bayern against them. It's just extraordinary.
You can view Kerr's comments in full below.
"I would describe it now as the highest form of spoofology."
Brian Kerr on Arturo Vidal's pre-match claims that Barcelona are the best team in the world.
😂😂😂#BarcaBayern | #FCBFCB#UCL | #FestivalOfFootball 🎡🎪⚽️ pic.twitter.com/xjLxWXH3GL— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) August 14, 2020
"The last two years were embarrassing for Barcelona, but this is humiliation."
Brian Kerr SCATHING of Barcelona as a team tonight and as a club in recent times.#BarcaBayern | #FCBFCB#UCL | #FestivalOfFootball 🎡🎪⚽️ pic.twitter.com/CUy7Xi2fL8— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) August 14, 2020
