This Sunday's Clasico ended with a 2-1 defeat for Barcelona against Real Madrid, with Camp Nou seeing their nine-match winning streak in La Liga ended. German coach Hansi Flick expressed disappointment with the performance, underlining that the result was not a sign of crisis but an opportunity to reflect on the team's weaknesses.
Flick began his speech by acknowledging that the team lost two games in one week, one of them their first defeat in LaLiga. "We are not satisfied, we are disappointed. The first half was poor, but we tried to recover in the second after the 1-1 draw," he said, highlighting the lack of freshness and decisive details. “Losses are part of sport; we have to analyze them and improve.” The coach reiterated that the defeat does not raise doubts about the team, but that luck was not on their side in the big matches.
As for the causes of the defeat, Flick mentioned the injury situation that affected Barcelona. Among the unavailable players are Eric García, Jules Koundé and Dani Olmo, all with muscle injuries or contusions. "Managing injuries is key. We are left with no options in the back four and we need to find solutions," he explained. “We may have to call young people from La Masia, perhaps Andreas Christensen, Jules Koundé, Eric García, depending on how their conditions evolve.”
The coach closed his speech with a message of motivation to the team: "We have to improve, there are no excuses. They are two defeats, too many for us and for the clubs, especially in the Clasico. We don't want to lose." Flick also highlighted the importance of managing injuries and using the talent of La Masia's youth to fill gaps.
With the defeat, Barcelona finds itself -3 points behind Real Madrid in the LaLiga table, while Flick's team will have to face next week with a reduced squad due to injuries. The club's management will have to decide whether to rely on Masia's talents or seek external solutions to maintain competitiveness in the league and European competitions. Barcelona's immediate future will depend on how quickly injured players return to fitness and Flick's ability to integrate youth into the team.