Barcelona suffered a humiliating 4-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Thursday. The defeat marked their worst result against Atletico since 1960, represented Hansi Flick’s heaviest loss as a manager, and was the first time Barcelona conceded four goals in a single half since their 8-2 defeat to Flick’s Bayern Munich.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Flick maintained a calm front during his post-match press conference, acknowledging that his team had been outclassed in the opening half. He also praised the overall performance of his squad this season, even as he voiced frustration over the officiating, following an extraordinary eight-minute VAR check.
Flick’s anger exposed behind closed doors
While publicly composed, Flick’s disappointment was far more visible inside the dressing room. According to Sport, the Barcelona players witnessed an intensity of anger they had never seen in his 18 months at the club. His frustration was particularly evident after Marc Casado was substituted in the first half for Robert Lewandowski.
Although Flick showed some support for Casado after leaving the pitch, he erupted at halftime, emphasizing to the squad that his anger was unprecedented during his tenure at Barcelona. Phrases such as “You deserve to be losing by more” were reportedly directed at the players, reflecting the severity of his displeasure.
Criticism focused on midfield and attack
MD reports that on Friday morning, Flick addressed his team again, questioning how they could take the field with such low intensity. After reviewing footage, he condemned their first-half performance as lacking energy, spirit, and competitive drive, a sentiment echoed by Deco in his post-match comments.
Flick singled out the midfield and attacking players for failing to press effectively, while the defense also drew criticism, particularly Eric Garcia and Alejandro Balde. With just three days before their next match against Girona at Montilivi on Monday, Barcelona face pressure to recover tactically and mentally. Any result other than a victory could further undermine the team’s confidence.