Flick refuses to use dodgy Girona goal as excuse for Barça's poor showing

Barcelona manager looking for answers after his side’s second consecutive stumble in La Liga.

Defeat deserved

Hansi Flick was in no mood to sugar-coat Barcelona’s performance after Sunday’s defeat to Girona, admitting the visitors “deserved to win” after creating numerous chances against his below-par side.

The German gaffer was brutally honest in his assessment, refusing to use a controversial second Girona goal as an excuse for what was, by his own admission, a poor showing from the Blaugrana.

“Our positioning wasn’t good, especially in midfield. We made too many mistakes,” Flick explained, looking visibly frustrated after watching his team fall to their second consecutive defeat.

Reset required

In a telling move that speaks volumes about the current state of the squad, Flick has given his players two days off to mentally reset. The decision comes as Barcelona appear to be hitting a rough patch at a crucial point in the season:

• Players described as “tired” by the manager
• Flick stressed this is “a long road” and they will return to form
• Defensive vulnerabilities highlighted as Barça are “conceding goals too easily”

Referee controversy

While Flick briefly acknowledged the controversial nature of Girona’s second goal - where many felt there was a clear foul on Koundé - he pointedly refused to make it the focus of his post-match comments.

“If we had played well, I would have talked more about this,” he stated, preferring to keep the focus on his team’s shortcomings rather than officiating decisions.

The German’s frustration was further evident in a tense pre-press conference interview with DAZN, where he abruptly ended the conversation after being questioned about the controversial incident.

Light at the end of the tunnel?

Despite the setbacks, Flick remains optimistic about the potential return of key players. He expressed hope that Pedri and Rashford could be available for next Sunday’s match, while Gavi is now able to train with the team.

“When everyone is available, let’s see if we can play at another level,” Flick suggested, clearly hoping that reinforcements will help Barcelona find their rhythm again.