Barcelona’s Commitment to Attacking Philosophy
After a dramatic 3-3 tie against Club Brugge in the Champions League, Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, stood firm on his commitment to the club’s aggressive attacking philosophy. The match at Jan Breydel Stadium saw Barça struggle defensively, with Brugge capitalizing on the team’s high defensive line by scoring each of their goals after Barcelona had equalized. This defensive frailty marks the longest stretch without a clean sheet for the Catalan giants since 2013, raising questions about Flick’s tactics.
Flick’s Post-Match Press Conference
In a post-match press conference, Flick faced criticism regarding his high-risk strategies, yet he remained resolute in his belief that the team should not revert to a more conservative, defensive approach.
“We could opt for a low block and defend primarily, but that doesn’t align with our philosophy. We need to stay true to our style to improve and succeed. To go far in the Champions League, you must play with intensity, and Brugge excelled at quick transitions, as we anticipated,”
he remarked.
Flick was particularly frustrated with the circumstances surrounding Brugge’s first goal, arguing that it should have been ruled offside. He noted a lack of confidence among the players and the need for critical adjustments within the team’s structure, especially in the midfield.
“We must enhance our ability to apply pressure and compete in duels. Currently, our defense struggles against faster players due to these issues. We need thorough analysis and discussions with the team,”
he stated.
Resilience and Future Outlook
Despite the defensive setbacks, Flick pointed to the resilience shown by his players, who managed to claw back from behind each time they conceded. He maintained a positive outlook for the future, noting that upcoming recoveries from injury could bolster the squad.
“Upon the return of players like Raphinha, Joan García, and Pedri, alongside the potential improvements from Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski, I believe we can elevate our game significantly,”
Flick added.
Currently, Barcelona occupies the eleventh spot in the Champions League group with seven points after four matches, while they hold a solid second place in LaLiga, trailing Real Madrid by five points ahead of their next clash with Celta Vigo.
Midfielder’s Perspective
Reflecting on the team’s performance, midfielder Frenkie de Jong agreed with Flick’s assessment, emphasizing the need for adjustment rather than a complete overhaul.
“We recognize the areas where we need to improve. Although we are putting in effort, it hasn’t translated to the pitch yet. We’re experiencing issues whether it’s regarding positional play or tracking opponents. It’s a combination of factors; conceding three goals complicates our chances of winning,”
de Jong explained.
He also urged teammates to stop drawing comparisons with last season, where Barça celebrated a domestic treble but fell short in the Champions League.
“Last year should remain in the past. We weren’t the best team in Europe, and we can’t keep measuring ourselves against that. It’s essential to focus on our current performance, addressing our vulnerabilities, especially with respect to goal concessions,”
De Jong concluded.
