MADRID – Hansi Flick pulled no punches after Barcelona’s crushing first-leg defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Goals from Griezmann, Lookman, Alvarez, and an Eric García own goal saw Atletico dominate the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
The Breakdown:First-Half Failure: Flick admitted the team lacked collective focus and failed to execute their signature press.
Missing Intensity: The manager noted Atletico’s superior “hunger” during the opening 45 minutes.
The Silver Lining: Despite the loss, Flick remains “proud” of the season so far and backed his squad to bounce back.
What’s Next? Barcelona faces a massive mountain to climb in the return leg at Camp Nou on March 3.