Barcelona’s draw with Celta Vigo left a clear impression in the dressing room, with coach Hansi Flick ending the match in a state of great annoyance due to the performance and behaviour of some of his players.
The German seemed angry about the mistakes made, as well as the lack of commitment, which led to the team’s suffering at the “Balaídos” stadium.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional”, the first player to be subjected to Flick’s harsh judgment was Gerard Martín, who occupied the left-back position due to the injuries suffered by Alejandro Balde.
Martín showed a weak defensive performance, which left gaps on the left flank, and made it easy for Celta’s wingers to slip through. Flick’s doubts about the player’s ability to contribute to the team had begun to crystallize before the match, and what happened on Saturday seems to have settled the matter. From now on, Gerard Martín’s role will be limited to the bench, and he will likely participate in the upcoming matches only rarely or not at all.
The case of Frenkie de Jong was more sensitive. The Dutchman, who came on as a substitute when Barcelona were 2-0 up, left a bad impression on the pitch. According to sources close to the team, Flick was very disappointed with the midfielder’s lack of commitment in the match.
The relationship between Flick and De Jong has deteriorated in recent weeks, with the Dutchman performing at levels far below what was expected.
The German coach believes that De Jong is not showing enough commitment to the project, and that his attitude is negatively affecting the team at crucial times. Accordingly, Flick has made a decisive decision: De Jong will lose his starting place in the upcoming matches, and he will have to work hard to regain the coach’s trust and regain his place in the lineup.
Flick’s message was clear: commitment and performance trump names. While players like Gavi and Marc Casado are giving their all in every match, others are not performing at the same level of expectations.
The coach will not tolerate any further slacking off. With the winter transfer window approaching, it seems likely that sporting director Deco will explore options to strengthen some positions where Flick believes he lacks certainty, particularly at left-back.