Hansi Flick insists Barcelona’s title hopes remain alive after PSG defeat

Hansi Flick says Barcelona’s hopes of winning trophies this season have not been damaged by their 4-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

The German manager acknowledged that his side made mistakes against the French club but rejected any suggestion that the result should lead to pessimism. Flick said a major defeat early in the season did not mean Barcelona’s ambitions had ended.

“Trophies are not decided in October. The Champions League will be decided in June,” he said.

Flick urged his players and critics to assess the performance beyond the final score, pointing to positive aspects of Barcelona’s display as well as the areas that need improvement.

“We have to analyse the match, but I saw some very good things and other things that we need to improve,” he said at his post-match news conference. “I do not want to be negative; I am optimistic. It was a good experience, and we have to analyse what we can improve.”

Barcelona had led themselves into a competitive position before losing control of the game late on. Flick said the team lost some of its balance after the score moved to 3-2, allowing Paris Saint-Germain to find space and extend their advantage to two goals.

Defensive issues need attention

The four goals conceded will bring Barcelona’s defensive organisation under scrutiny, with Flick aware that positioning and the distances between players must be improved if they are to compete successfully against leading opponents.

He called for greater composure and better connections between the different parts of the team.

“We have to play more calmly, position ourselves better and maintain the connection between the players,” Flick said. “We must not leave big spaces between us, and we must be clearer about what we want to do.”

The manager also praised Joan Garcia despite the four goals that went into the Barcelona goalkeeper’s net, saying he had made several important saves during the match.

Flick added that Barcelona had created chances which could have been used more effectively, suggesting the result did not fully reflect every aspect of the team’s performance.

There is little time for Barcelona to dwell on the defeat, with Real Madrid waiting in the La Liga Clasico next Sunday. Flick’s side must quickly recover from the loss to Paris Saint-Germain before facing another major test.