Flick’s Concerns After Barça’s 4-4 Draw Against Atlético
FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid delivered an unforgettable battle in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg, ending in a thrilling 4-4 draw. While Hansi Flick was pleased with his team’s offensive display, he was frustrated by defensive lapses that cost them the victory.
Flick’s Main Concern: Defensive Errors
• Barcelona showed high attacking quality, but their lack of defensive solidity allowed Atlético to equalize late in the match.
• Flick pointed out two players who, in his opinion, underperformed defensively.
Alejandro Balde: Struggles at Left-Back
• Balde was one of the players Flick was critical of, as he struggled defensively once again.
• This isn’t the first time Balde has been exposed in key matches, raising concerns about his defensive reliability at the highest level.
What’s Next for Barça?
• Flick will likely demand defensive improvements ahead of the return leg in Madrid.
• With La Liga and Copa del Rey still at stake, Barça must address their defensive weaknesses if they want to compete for silverware.
The second leg at the Metropolitano promises another intense battle, but if Barcelona can’t fix their defensive issues, Atlético might capitalize once again.
His physical conditions are extraordinary, and in attack, he is an essential weapon.But defensively, he still leaves too much space, allowing opponents to exploit his flank easily.
In the last league match against Atlético, he already struggled a lot with Antoine Griezmann and Nahuel Molina. On this occasion, Ángel Correa and Lino gave him another tough night.
Flick is aware of his potential, but he considers that his defensive fragility remains a problem.He isn’t convinced that he can be the undisputed starting left-back without improving that aspect.
The other major one pointed out was Jules Koundé. The French center-back is having a great season, establishing himself as a key piece in the blaugrana defense.
However, against Atlético, he made uncharacteristic mistakes, and one of them ended in a goal. An inexplicable loss in ball exit allowed the red-and-white team to regain possession in a dangerous area, and Antoine Griezmann didn’t forgive.
Pedri Didn’t Hold His Tongue
After the match, Pedri González, one of the standout figures of the game for his brilliant performance, didn’t hesitate to self-criticize. Without naming names, he made it clear that the team needs to improve in defense and be smarter in game management.
“Maybe we need to defend a little further back,” stated the Canary Islander, in a message that seems directed at both Balde and Koundé.
Barça has suffered in several matches this season due to a lack of solidity in key moments.Flick has already made it clear that he needs to improve the defense if he wants to aim for titles.
The reality is that Flick doesn’t have many alternatives for immediate changes in defense. The lack of a reliable left-back forces Balde to play almost everything. In Koundé’s case, although Christensen could take his place, Flick still trusts him.
However, with the summer market in sight, it wouldn’t be surprising if Barça seeks reinforcements in defense. Especially at left-back, where Flick wants a more reliable player in defensive tasks.
Flick’s message has been clear: if the team wants to win titles, they can’t concede so many goals so easily. Now, the players will have to show if they are capable of correcting these errors or if the coach will make more drastic decisions in the coming months.
