Despite the heavy defeats against PSG and Sevilla last week, there is a sense of calm at the top levels of FC Barcelona, reports MARCA. Barça suffered a 2-1 loss to PSG in the UEFA Champions League �...
Despite the heavy defeats against PSG and Sevilla last week, there is a sense of calm at the top levels of FC Barcelona, reports MARCA.
Barça suffered a 2-1 loss to PSG in the UEFA Champions League – their first defeat of the season – before being hammered 4-1 by Sevilla this past weekend in La Liga.
The manner of defeat, particularly in the Sevilla game, has raised some concerns about the team’s high-risk playing style. But within the club, there is calm and composure.
No crisis talk
Following the team’s return from Seville, discussions took place between Joan Laporta, Deco, and Hansi Flick, but at no point did panic set in. The general assessment is that the team has simply had two poor matches, but nothing has been lost as a result.
No one wishes to dramatise the situation, especially considering that Flick is currently without several key players through injury, including Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Gavi, and Joan Garcia.
Barcelona view the situation as normal. The season is long, and things are far from serious, even though the nature of the two defeats might lead some to think the team is in crisis. That word, however, has been firmly ruled out within the club.
No alarms being raised. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Two examples cited
Two examples are often cited to support this stance. One is PSG’s situation at this stage of last season, when they also went through difficult moments and came close to missing out on the Champions League knockout stages – before ultimately winning everything.
The other example is Barcelona’s own experience against AS Monaco last season. The team started the 2024/25 Champions League group stage with a defeat but managed to recover brilliantly, finishing second in the group behind Liverpool.
For this reason, calm reigns at Barcelona, where confidence remains that after the international break, and with several important players returning, the team will once again show its best version.
Remaining calm, however, does not mean that everything has been done correctly. There are many issues to fix. Everyone in the club’s hierarchy and Flick himself is aware of this.
The coach knows he must act, and the players, most of whom have already engaged in self-criticism, also recognise the need to make changes to improve the team’s performance. And those changes are urgent.
Category: General Sports
