Flick blames fatigue and lack of freshness after the Clasico

German coach Hansi Flick, at the helm of FC Barcelona, expressed his disappointment after the defeat to Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou, during the LaLiga EA Sports round, according to Enric Fontcuberta of EFE, pointing out the lack of freshness in the squad.

Fatigue and defensive errors

Flick admitted that fatigue had reduced the team's performance and that defensive errors under high pressure allowed the opponent to launch the move that resulted in Real Madrid's second goal. He criticised the repetition of those mistakes and emphasised the importance of correcting them.

Nevertheless, the coach praised the opponent's quality, stating that they had played against a team superior to previous classics. He added that the recent schedule, with matches against Betis in Seville and a trip to Paris, had made it difficult for his players to be fresh.

He acknowledged that it was Barça's first defeat in ten matches and that, although they had not played at their best level, the setback should not undermine the dressing room's confidence. He insisted that the squad must recover, train well and keep morale high throughout the season.

Flick laments lack of freshness after Barça's double defeat

Injuries and tactical adjustments

Flick noted that injuries in defence are the biggest problem, citing recent knocks to Olmo, Eric and Koundé, and the shallow depth of the squad. He expects Christensen to return next week, and for Eric and Koundé to also become available again.

Regarding the Clasico, he explained the decision to place Frenkie de Jong in a more advanced position, arguing that his recent training gives him strength with the ball and that it was crucial for him to play some minutes. He considered that this option added dynamism to the attack.

The coach announced that the team has a full week without competition to rest and disconnect before the next match. He set a goal of winning the three remaining games before the international break, adhering to the nutrition and recovery protocols.

Mbappé drives Real Madrid to a Clasico win

Finally, Flick reiterated that the small details decide the big games and that, although defeat is part of sport, Barça must learn from it and move forward with an eye on improving.