Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was candid in his assessment following the team's disappointing 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Saturday. Despite opening a two-goal lead through strikes by Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, the Catalan giants faltered in the closing stages of the match, allowing Celta to snatch a point. Marc Casado’s dismissal in the 82nd minute with a second yellow card proved to be a turning point, as the home side capitalized with two late goals, including a crucial equalizer in stoppage time.
Speaking to DAZN, Flick did not mince words, admitting that Barcelona's performance fell well below expectations. "It wasn’t just the last few minutes; we played a really bad game tonight," he remarked. "If you don’t play at 100 percent, you can’t win. That’s the reality of football. We must be honest with ourselves. These things happen, but we need to do much better."
Flick refrained from singling out individuals for blame, such as Marc Casado for his red card or Jules Kounde for his error that led to Alfonso Gonzalez’s goal in the 84th minute. Instead, he criticized the team's collective effort, highlighting their lack of focus and confidence throughout the game. "The red card and Kounde’s mistake were just consequences of a poor overall performance," Flick explained. "We made too many errors and lacked composure on the ball. This wasn’t the football we’re capable of playing."
Despite the disappointment, Flick emphasized the need to learn from the experience and move forward, especially with a crucial Champions League fixture against Brest looming on Tuesday. "We have to react and ensure this doesn’t happen again," he said. "I hope this result doesn’t negatively impact our preparation for the upcoming match."
Barcelona remains atop the LaLiga standings with 34 points, five ahead of Atletico Madrid and seven clear of third-placed Real Madrid, who have two games in hand. However, Flick's comments underline that the league leaders must quickly rediscover their form if they are to maintain their position and compete on multiple fronts.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0