Hansi Flick’s unexpected message to Barcelona players after Las Palmas defeat – report

After Barcelona’s painful defeat to Las Palmas, Hansi Flick opted for a more measured approach compared to his reaction following the Celta de Vigo game. 

During that match, a frustrating equaliser in the final minutes, after being 0-2 down in the 83rd minute, led to an irritated response from the coach. He openly criticised his players both internally and in the press room. 

However, after the loss to Las Palmas, which came on a significant occasion for the club’s 125th anniversary celebration, Flick chose to handle the situation differently, focusing on psychology rather than confrontation.

What was Flick’s reaction?

Instead of reprimanding his players for their poor performance, Flick encouraged them to stay united during this difficult time. He recognised the importance of maintaining a strong team spirit, especially when the results aren’t going in their favour. 

Flick is pleased with the current atmosphere in the dressing room and does not want recent setbacks to undermine the strong bond within the squad, which has been supportive and cohesive until now.

He is aware that the team’s physical performance has dipped recently. They are not pressing as hard or as intensely as they did earlier in the season. However, he believes this will improve over time. 

The real challenge, according to Flick, is ensuring that the team’s morale doesn’t begin to suffer, as that could be far harder to recover from. 

Barcelona have been in a similar situation

This is something Barcelona experienced last season after the El Classico defeat, where players like Ilkay Gundogan expressed frustration with the lack of reaction from some teammates after a last-minute loss to Real Madrid.

Looking ahead, Flick hopes the team will regain their physical sharpness. He is optimistic that players returning from injuries—such as Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Ferran Torres—will also improve their performances. 

Despite these hopes, the upcoming fixtures bring fresh challenges. With matches against Mallorca, Real Betis, and Borussia Dortmund on the horizon, Barcelona will need to find a way to bounce back quickly and approach these matches with renewed determination.