Catalan daily paper El Periodico's verdict on Barcelona's women's team a few months back was as follows: 'Black week. Barcelona throw away the league and cup in five days.'
And for Toni Duggan, who always carries a weight of expectation, the verdict was particularly bruising. Her player rating in last month's Champions League final defeat by Lyon was one out of five in El Mundo Deportivo.
This is not what English players are accustomed to back at home, where the inclination to celebrate the growth of the women's game can preclude a negative critique at times.
England and Barcelona star Toni Duggan loves the attitude towards the women's game in Spain
When West Ham goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse fumbled a ball into the net at last month's FA Cup final, some reports made minimal or no allusion to it.
Duggan wants the criticism because without it, the women's game is patronised and diminished.
'In Spain when we're successful we're on the front page of the newspaper,' she says, 'Every newspaper.
'But when we lose we're slated, the same as the men. That's the level the game is at.
'In the past, we might have lost a game (in England) and you get fans messaging you saying, "Ah, don't worry, you've done so well".
'And it can be a bit patronising. We've actually played badly and people are saying, "Ah, we're so proud". Is it just because we're the women's team? Is it just because we're girls?
Duggan wants criticism because without it, the women's game is patronised and diminished
'If that was the men you wouldn't be saying that. I'm not asking for all the journalists to criticise us all the time but it would be a sign (of progress).'
Though several other members of Phil Neville's squad have taken the same leap that Duggan did when becoming the first English player to join one of the big continental sides two years ago, she remains the one with the star-dust quality: the most forthright and self-assured of the squad.
There is a restive energy about the Liverpudlian, who reached Catalonia via Everton and Manchester City.
One of her front page appearances in El Mundo Deportivo last season was an image, strung out across the masthead, of her celebrating a decisive goal as Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid in front of a world record 60,739 fans at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Duggan found something equally significant about a less positive image that day.
'It was of me celebrating and behind me there's actually a man putting his middle finger up,' she says. 'I'm not promoting that or saying it's a good thing but it kind of showed what it meant.
'Atletico supporters were giving us stick. They were booing us. You could feel the passion in the stadium.
Her player rating in Spain after the Champions League final defeat by Lyon was one out of five
Duggan became the first English player to join a big continental side when she signed in 2017
'People had bought those tickets, they were die-hard Atletico Madrid fans, there to
