Flick's olive branch to ref after Atleti defeat: 'We didn't lose because of him'
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick reveals details of his post-match conversation with the referee following Copa del Rey semi-final first leg defeat to Atlético Madrid.
Barcelona manager takes responsibility for Copa del Rey semi-final first leg loss and focuses on bouncing back against Girona, with his side now trailing Real Madrid in the title race.
Referee chat revealed
Hansi Flick has opened up about his post-match conversation with the referee following Barcelona’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg defeat to Atlético Madrid. Rather than pointing fingers, the German gaffer took the high road.
“I appreciate that he opened the door and we could talk,” Flick explained about his visit to the official’s room. “We didn’t lose because of him.”
The Barcelona boss described the conversation as “calm” and “very good” - a refreshing approach in an era where managers often use officials as convenient scapegoats after disappointing results.
Bouncing back against Girona
With Barcelona now trailing Real Madrid by two points in La Liga following Los Blancos’ victory on Saturday, tomorrow’s clash with Girona takes on added importance.
Flick acknowledged the challenge ahead: “Girona is a well-organised team, brave, good at playing out from the back… it’s important that we’re more intense and have more dynamism than in previous matches.”
The German remains confident despite Thursday’s setback, noting: “We have a lot of quality and can beat anyone. But if we’re not focused, what happened in the first 45 minutes at the Metropolitano happens.”
Team news
- Raphinha returns to the squad - a massive boost according to Flick, who called him “the best player in the world last season”
- Rashford remains unavailable despite improvement
- Pedri expected back this month
- Gavi progressing well but likely returning next month
- Marc Bernal available for selection
Lessons learned
Flick was brutally honest about his team’s performance against Atlético: “We didn’t have the right attitude, they outplayed us. They had better dynamism.”
However, he’s seen positive signs in training: “I’m happy with what I’ve seen today, but I need to see it tomorrow. You can lose against Atlético, but you have to move on. Defeats can happen, but it’s important how you react to them.”
With Barcelona’s official statement criticising referees looming in the background, Flick took a more diplomatic approach: “We’re all human and we make mistakes. We all have to improve… Everyone should be neutral. There can be errors, we’re human.”