Barcelona manager Hansi Flick did not try to hide his disappointment after the team’s heavy 0-4 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.
It was a result that left a big mark, especially because the damage was done early in the game.
Flick made it clear that the main issue was not just the scoreline, but how his team started the match.
Barcelona struggled to find rhythm, intensity, and coordination in the opening stages, and Atlético took full advantage.
The German coach admitted that slow starts have hurt his side more than once this season.
“We didn’t play well as a team. And when you don’t play like that, you don’t play well.
“There was a lack of pressing. Sometimes it’s good to learn a lesson like that. Then we played better. But we’ll fight. We have two 45-minute halves to score two goals in each half.”
Analysing the defeat
Despite the defeat, Flick refused to turn his frustration into criticism of the squad.
He stressed that the group has shown character throughout the season, even while dealing with injuries and difficult moments.
When asked if he was disappointed with the players, he explained, “Look, when I say I’m disappointed, maybe that’s not right. I’m proud of these players this season.
Flick was certainly not happy with refereeing decisions. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
“We’ve had injuries. And that’s part of the game. Sometimes you lose. Today was a wake-up call, a tough defeat. And we’ll be back.
“We have to accept this lesson. We didn’t play well from the first minute. We have a young team, but that’s no excuse. Then, the second half was better.”
The disallowed goal
One of the most controversial moments of the night came when Pau Cubarsi thought he had scored, only for the goal to be ruled out after a long VAR review.
Flick was clearly frustrated by both the decision and the lack of communication.
Reacting to the incident, he said, “What can I say? Look, we started with the yellow cards. The first action on Balde was a yellow card.
“And there could have been a second yellow. For me, this is a mess. We had to wait, how long, seven minutes? Looking for something. I don’t know.
“How long do we have to wait, seven minutes, seven minutes? For me, it’s clearly not offside. I see it differently.
“Then, when they disallow it, they don’t tell us anything. There’s no communication. I don’t understand why it’s offside. It’s a shame. It’s a disaster.”
Refereeing decisions
Casado was replaced in the first half. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
In the post-match press conference, Flick continued to reflect on the refereeing decisions and how they affected the game.
Discussing the early challenges, he said, “What can I say? To start with, the first foul on Balde was a yellow card for Giuliano [Simeone], and that might have changed the whole game.
“There should have been a second yellow card too.”
He also explained why Marc Casado was taken off in the first half, even though the midfielder had been performing well in duels.
“I had to take Marc off because he had a yellow card and was at risk of getting a red, even though he was winning a lot of battles in midfield,” he concluded.
Source: AS