On a night that was expected to yield another victory, Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano in the third round of the Spanish League, dropping two valuable points in the La Liga race and ending the match with just seven points.
However, what happened after the final whistle proved to be the most noteworthy moment inside the Catalan club. Coach Hansi Flick erupted in anger at the players in the locker room over their lackluster and disappointing display, which fell short of both the team’s and fans’ expectations.
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According to sources close to the Barcelona camp, Flick did not hesitate to harshly criticize several squad members. However, he spared only one player from his fiery outburst: goalkeeper Juan Garcia. The German coach described Garcia as having “saved the team from certain defeat,” referring to the decisive saves he made throughout both halves of the match.
Flick on Garcia: “If it weren’t for his brilliance, we would’ve suffered a heavy defeat tonight.”
Garcia delivered a standout performance against Rayo Vallecano, making several crucial stops, including a one-on-one save in the final minute, denying the home side a victory that had seemed well within reach.
On the other hand, some players bore the brunt of Flick’s frustration, most notably Dani Olmo, whom the coach has decided to drop from the starting lineup for upcoming matches. He placed a large share of the blame on Olmo for the team’s ineffective attacking play.
Sources within the coaching staff confirmed that Flick views Olmo as one of the main reasons behind the team’s failure to create offensive momentum, after the Spanish international failed to contribute meaningfully or generate any significant chances during the game.
Barcelona, which is aiming to reclaim the La Liga title this season, now faces a fresh challenge. It must reorganize its tactical approach and correct its trajectory early, especially with the Champions League just around the corner.
Fans, for their part, took to social media to voice their frustration, calling for drastic changes to the starting lineup and demanding reliance on players who are mentally and technically ready, particularly after such an unexpected setback.
The question now remains:
Can Flick restore the team’s rhythm in time, or will the draw against Rayo mark the beginning of deeper struggles this season?
