JEREMY MATHIEU has slammed the treatment of players at Barcelona, claiming that he was given no support in his last year at the club.
Luis Enrique, in charge during the Frenchman’s Camp Nou stint between 2014 to 2017, ‘did not talk to’ the player during his struggles.
Jeremy Mathieu has criticised the culture of criticism at BarcelonaCredit: AFP or licensors
Barcelona won a Champions League, two LaLiga titles and three Copa del Rey crowns during Mathieu’s time with the club.
But his final season saw him castigated for two poor performances as the Catalans missed out in the league and Europe.
Mathieu, 37, was hooked after 45 minutes of a 2-0 defeat to Malaga that served to end Barcelona’s title hopes.
Three days later, he was again taken off midway through a 3-0 loss at Juventus that knocked them out of the Champions League and became his final appearance for the team.
Huge criticism of the centre-back led to him being outcast inside the club, he has asserted.
Mathieu told Catalan radio station RAC1: “I had a very bad time in my last year with Barcelona.
Mathieu sympathsied with under-fire defender Clement LengletCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Antoine Griezmann’s move to Barcelona was labelled ‘wrong’ by the ex-defenderCredit: AP:Associated Press
“I had the feeling I was blamed for the 3-0 defeat in Turin, but football is played with eleven players, not just one.
“I felt alone in the dressing room.
“No one offered support. For me, that’s not football.”
Mathieu likened his situation in 2017 to that of Clement Lenglet.
The Frenchman was hammered for his performances against Paris Saint-Germain and Cadiz, the latter leaving him in tears as he left the Camp Nou having given away a late penalty.
Retired defender Mathieu added: “Everyone is killing Lenglet now, and I know what that’s like. He has to try and be positive and to turn it around, and try his best.”
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I think Griezmann was wrong to sign for Barcelona.
Jeremy Mathieu
Barcelona look set to end the season without a trophy and Mathieu believes Antoine Griezmann must up his game.
After costing the Blaugrana £105million, the striker’s lack of consistent world-class form led to his countryman’s dour review of the transfer.
He added: “[Griezmann] isn’t at the level he was at Atletico.
“I think he was wrong to sign for Barcelona. At Atletico he was an important part of the team, and I don’t know if he has that place at Barcelona.”
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Barcelona star Lenglet breaks down in tears as he leaves Nou Camp after giving away last-minute penalty in Cadiz draw
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
