Barcelona suffered a surprising, last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in a match that saw clear French dominance, especially in the second half of the Champions League clash at the Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys. What happened on the pitch raised many questions about the Catalan team’s performance, with coach Hansi Flick expressing his dissatisfaction, revealing that there were deeper problems than what appeared on the surface.
The most prominent figure who drew criticism from the German coach was goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who had to replace the injured Juan Garcia. Although he wasn’t directly responsible for the goals, his lackluster performance and delayed reactions left a negative impression. The result might have been different had he responded more quickly in certain crucial moments.
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Another target of criticism was midfielder Dani Olmo, who showed flashes of skill early in the match but gradually faded as the game progressed. Missing a clear opportunity to score a second goal while the team was level reflected a lack of focus and concentration that clearly disrupted the team’s rhythm.
In the post-match press conference, Flick acknowledged Paris Saint-Germain’s superiority as arguably the best team in Europe at the moment, despite their absences. However, he voiced his dissatisfaction with his players’ overall performance, stressing that the team lacked the sharpness and brilliance required to secure victory.
This loss raises serious questions about Barcelona’s future in the tournament and presents the German coach with the urgent challenge of rebalancing the team as soon as possible.
