Flick insists Barcelona’s title hopes are alive despite PSG setback

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has rejected pessimism after his side’s 4-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, insisting that the loss will not define their season.

The German coach acknowledged that Barcelona made mistakes against the French side but said there were also positive aspects to take from the match. He urged his players and critics to keep the result in perspective, stressing that a major defeat early in the campaign does not end a team’s ambitions.

“Titles are not decided in October. The Champions League will be decided in June,” Flick said.

Flick said the result needed to be examined carefully rather than viewed only through the scoreline. Speaking at his post-match news conference, he added: “We have to analyse the match, but I saw very good things and other things that we have to improve. I do not want to be negative, I am optimistic. It was a good experience and we have to analyse what we can improve.”

Barcelona led themselves into a difficult final phase after losing some of their balance when the score reached 3-2. That allowed Paris Saint-Germain to find space and extend their advantage to two goals.

Defensive issues in focus

Flick accepted that conceding four times highlighted areas of Barcelona’s defensive performance that required attention, particularly the positioning of the players and the distances between the lines.

He said the team needed to show greater composure, improve its structure and make its intentions clearer in possession and without the ball.

“We have to play more calmly, position ourselves better and maintain the connection between the players,” Flick said. “We must not leave big spaces between us and we have to be clearer about what we want to do.”

Despite the four goals conceded, Flick praised Juan Garcia for making several important saves during the match. The manager also pointed to the chances Barcelona created, suggesting that they could have made better use of those opportunities.

The defeat comes before a demanding domestic fixture, with Barcelona due to face Real Madrid in El Clasico in La Liga next Sunday.

That match gives Flick and his players little time to dwell on the loss to Paris Saint-Germain. Barcelona must now respond quickly, address the defensive problems identified by their manager and attempt to restore momentum in the league.