Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has called on the club’s supporters to back Luis Enrique’s troubled side to support the team to end the season on a high note.
Barca had been seeking to become the first team to retain the Champions League title since AC Milan won back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990
However, the Catalan giants were dumped out of the ongoing tournament at the hands of Atletico Madrid in midweek, when Diego Simeone’s side followed up on a 2-1 defeat in the first leg to win 2-0 and advance to the final four.
The loss comes after a run of poor form for the Catalan giants, who have taken just one point from their last three matches in the Spanish top flight.
Barca have had their lead at the top of La Liga whittled down to just three points, and will be desperate to return to winning ways when they host Valencia—who have troubles of their own—at the Nou Camp on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of the match, Bartomeu has called on the club’s fans to show their support for the team, and keep alive hopes of winning a seventh double in Barca’s history.
“I ask for peace, this is sport,” Bartomeu began, speaking at a lunch conference organised by the Barcelona Tribuna [quotes as per Marca]. You can win or lose, but you can always win.
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“Given the pessimism, I ask for calm because the team is focused on their goals,” he continued. “We’ve only won the double six times in our history, so we ask for a good ovation and support for the team on Sunday.
“Winning the double would be spectacular.”