Concern is understandable, but panic is unnecessary.
Hansi Flick and his coaching staff have had ample time to carefully analyze Barça’s recent back-to-back defeats against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Sevilla. The nature of these two losses is largely similar: against defending Champions League winners PSG, the team suffered a physical collapse in the second half due to being outmatched tactically;
Meanwhile, against Sevilla—who were still in La Liga’s relegation zone last season—Barça’s performance was even worse. Before the international break, Flick had already warned the dressing room: “After the international break, we must give our all in training and competitions.”
Key Point 1: Regain the Intensity of the Treble-Winning Era
One of the core tenets of Flick’s coaching philosophy is his extreme focus on training standards. He not only demands that players give their all in matches but also insists on maintaining the highest standards in daily training. The Barça manager has noticed a recent slackness among the players, and now is the time to regroup—they must recapture the momentum that led them to win the domestic treble last season and come close to reaching the Champions League final in Munich.
The German coach believes the club should put aside excuses now and rediscover the fighting spirit to compete for all targets. Flick remains calm because he has full trust in the players, and the team still has plenty of room for adjustment: their Champions League group stage record (1 win, 1 loss) is identical to that of the same period last year, and their league points are only two less than last year—which happens to be the current points gap with Real Madrid. Starting next Monday morning, Flick will lead players not involved in international duty to fully commit to training.
Key Point 2: The Return of Injured Players Is Crucial
Although Flick never makes excuses, he admitted that the team’s defeats against PSG and Sevilla within four consecutive days are closely related to the severe injury crisis. The absences of Raphinha (missed nearly 3 games), Fermín (out since the big win over Getafe), and Yamal (only missed the Sevilla game but had already sat out 4 matches due to pubic discomfort) have severely disrupted the attacking system. Adding to the woes are long-term absentees Gavi (out for 5 months) and Joan García (will miss El Clásico). What’s worse, reserve players are either just returning from injuries and lacking match fitness or failing to meet the coach’s expectations. The good news is that after the international break, Raphinha, Fermín (who has already joined individual training), and Yamal will all return collectively.
Key Point 3: Brewing Tactical Adjustments
In addition to welcoming back Raphinha, Fermín, and Yamal—three key executors of high pressing (the latter, though less involved in pressing, can create attacking imbalances)—Flick is considering minor tactical tweaks. The German will not abandon his established system or high pressing, but may make localized adjustments: he is evaluating a plan to move English striker Marcus Rashford from the wing to the center, letting him play as an out-and-out striker. Although Ferran Torres’ goal efficiency is impeccable, the coach hopes to free up space on the left wing for the returning Raphinha. Robert Lewandowski has accepted his role as a key substitute for this season.
Key Point 4: Dressing Room Self-Reflection and Unity
The first step toward improvement is acknowledging mistakes, and many players in Barça’s dressing room have carefully analyzed the problems exposed in these two defeats (these issues were also visible in previous matches against Rayo Vallecano, Levante, and Real Sociedad). Notably, only in matches against Valencia and Getafe at the Johan Cruyff Stadium was the team’s pressing efficiency flawless. Public statements from players such as Pedri and Jules Koundé have highlighted the dressing room’s pain over the results and their determination to improve. After completing self-criticism, Flick hopes the dressing room can rekindle the “family cohesion” of last season—only if all members pull together and prioritize the team over individuals can Barça challenge for all trophies.
Key Point 5: Possibility of Strengthening in January
Flick has absolute trust in the current squad. This lineup—except for the departure of Iñigo Martínez—has largely retained the framework of last season’s treble-winning team, and has also added Marcus Rashford, Joan García, and Aleix Valdés.
Therefore, the coach firmly believes that as long as the whole team regains the focus and commitment of last season, they can still compete for all honors. However, Iñigo’s departure has indeed had a significant impact on the center-back partnership: apart from the Koundé-Araujo pairing, which has started 6 times in 10 official matches (but never completed a full game together), other pairings have not been fixed. Since there is a lack of left-footed center-backs in the squad, the sports department is searching the market for suitable candidates. The current priority is to maximize the potential of the existing squad, but if there is an opportunity to sign players in the January window, the coach is open to it. He will work with Deco to assess the priority positions for reinforcement: hoping to sign at least one left-footed center-back or striker (if the tactical experiment fails to meet expectations).
