In a stunning turn of events at the Wanda Metropolitano, FC Barcelona suffered a heavy defeat, falling to Atlético Madrid with a scoreline of 0-4 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final. This result, leaving the Catalan giants with a monumental task in the return fixture, was dissected by their German coach in the aftermath.
Hansi Flick, addressing the media post-match, refused to concede the tie, emphasizing the remaining opportunity. “It’s not over yet,” he stated, pointing to the upcoming 90 minutes at the Camp Nou. “We need every supporter in our stadium, and we will fight to reach the final,” Flick asserted, framing the second leg as a battle for redemption.
A First-Half Performance Far from Expectations
The coach offered a blunt assessment of his team’s initial display, leaving no room for excuses. “In the first half, we played very poorly,” Flick admitted. He expressed disappointment that the team failed to perform as a cohesive unit, falling short of both internal standards and the expectations of their devoted fanbase. This admission underscored a performance lacking the identity and intensity typically associated with the Blaugrana.
Acknowledging a marginal improvement after the break, Flick nonetheless labeled the 4-0 deficit as exceedingly harsh. “The second half was better, yes, but a 4-0 result is very severe,” he remarked. Despite the daunting scoreline, his message remained focused on the future, repeating his conviction that the contest remains alive. “However, it’s not over yet. It’s not over yet, we have a chance,” he insisted.
Flick confirmed that the halftime interval was used for urgent discussions, analyzing various game situations and the imperative for a significant performance uplift. “We talked at halftime about different situations, and about how we should have performed better,” he revealed, adding pointedly, “I did not see the team I want to see in the first half.”
Controversy and a Path Forward
The German tactician also directed criticism towards the officiating, specifically referencing a disallowed goal for Barcelona. “I wonder why an offside situation is called… I don’t know what they decided,” Flick stated, voicing his bewilderment at the decision. While conceding that the ruling must be accepted, he made his personal disagreement unequivocally clear: “We have to accept it but I do not agree with the decision.”
Concluding his remarks, Flick returned to the challenge ahead, accepting the team’s subpar showing while vowing a spirited response. “We did not play well, we have to go to the second leg, it will be very difficult but we will fight,” he promised, setting the stage for a climactic return encounter at the Camp Nou where Barcelona’s cup aspirations now hang in the balance.