Joe Cole thinks that Barcelona’s defense is inadequate for securing victory in the UEFA Champions League.

“Won’t have enough to win it” – Barcelona showed “frailties” against Dortmund, says Cole

TNT Sports expert Joe Cole has cast doubt on Barcelona’s chances of clinching the UEFA Champions League title this season, citing concerns over their defensive capabilities.

The Spanish giants managed to secure their place in the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in six years, overcoming Borussia Dortmund with a 5-3 aggregate scoreline. After a commanding 4-0 lead from the first leg, Hansi Flick’s side were expected to comfortably advance to the last four.

However, their confidence took a hit early on in the second leg when they found themselves trailing 1-0 in just the 11th minute, courtesy of a penalty converted by Serhou Guirassy. The striker went on to complete a hat-trick at Signal Iduna Park, but Dortmund’s 3-1 victory was ultimately insufficient to secure progression.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Cole pointed out the defensive shortcomings displayed by Barcelona during the match. “I think Barcelona showed enough frailties tonight,” he remarked. “I don’t think they’ll have enough to win it. There were enough times that they were carved open.”

He further warned that their high defensive line could spell trouble against formidable opponents like Bayern Munich or Inter Milan in the next round. The result also marked the end of Barcelona’s impressive 24-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.

Despite this setback, the Catalan club remains in contention for a treble, sitting atop La Liga and advancing to the Copa del Rey final. Their last European triumph came a decade ago when Luis Enrique’s side defeated Juventus 3-1 in Berlin.

Cole believes that this year’s final may come too soon for Flick’s youthful squad but remains optimistic about their prospects in the future. “All the credit goes to Dortmund,” he added. “From the Barcelona perspective, the frailties that I saw, I think they are frailties that are going to be here.”

He expressed confidence that the young players in the Barcelona team will learn valuable lessons from this experience, particularly about the unpredictable nature of European football. “You’re 4-0 up, you’re strolling. It’s only half-time. A goal can change. Teams can change. It’s something that you have to manage,” he noted.

Cole also mentioned that goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny appeared a bit rash early on, suggesting that Marc-Andre ter Stegen would return for the semi-final, which would bolster their chances. However, he maintained that either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich would likely triumph against Barcelona in a semi-final clash.

Barcelona will discover their semi-final opponents when the two aforementioned clubs face off at the San Siro on Wednesday. Both teams have been prolific in front of goal this season, which could spell trouble for Barcelona’s defence.

TNT Sports expert Owen Hargreaves echoed Cole’s sentiments, stating that Dortmund created numerous chances over the two legs. “You have to credit Dortmund,” he said. “They looked a little bit vulnerable today. I think looking at the semi-final, teams will look at that and think we can get at this defence.”