Hansi Flick He even got upset at the press conference after the game against the Witches. Without losing his form, he said that he had already answered the question about the team’s defensive system several times, and the answer was the same. Criticism rains down on him from all sides, some current players have slipped it and past former footballers talk about it to commentators like Thierry Henry. «We all know what happened against Benfica or against Inter last year. The number of goals conceded is exaggerated. Goals that are mostly very easy for the rival. They have to solve that as soon as possible because that’s how it is impossible for them to win in Europe», says the French attacker. Most people use the verb “change”, but Hansi talks about “working” or “improving”and thinks that the problem is not in the defenders, it is a little further forward. “In the midfield we have not pressed, we have not won duels, so it is not easy for the back line against such fast players,” says the German.
Individual and collective errors
The first goal of the Belgians was actually an example of many things. Sabbe, the passer, was free, without Rashford’s surveillance, so he had time to cross into space for Forbs. The defensive line called for offside, but Koundé was left behind. The action was legal. There was a collective error and another individual. «The first goal, last year, would have been offside by two meters. We have to insist on that idea,” says the coach. Bruges only fell once in an advanced position, very few, taking into account the idea of the game proposed by the locals and some precedents.
“We can defend in the last quarter or maintain our philosophy and do things better,” continues the coach, who is clearly betting on the second option, to maintain the “DNA”: “We are Barça.” «Why insist on an idea doomed to failure?», asks another ex-football commentator, Ruud Gullit. “No,” Flick says emphatically to the change, despite the barrage of criticism. He wants to maintain his idea, but improving, and he holds on to the fact that he is recovering troops. Lewandowski and Olmo have already played, after the national team break Joan García and Raphinha will return, and we’ll see what happens with Pedri. “Without intensity there is nothing to do,” continues the German. And the return of the Brazilian will surely give him a plus.
20 goals conceded in 15 games, only three clean sheets
At the moment, Barcelona is not stopping the bleeding. In 15 games played (11 in the League and 4 in the Champions League), he has conceded 20 goals and in only three games of all those played has he kept a clean sheet, against Mallorca, Getafe and Valencia. In six of his duels he has started losing (Bruges, Levante, Oviedo, Real Sociedad, Sevilla and Real Madrid), he managed to tie one (Bruges), lost two (Sevilla and Real Madrid), and in three he managed to turn the result around, even with a disadvantage of two goals (against Levante).
The criticism is not new
“Last year we also conceded a lot of goals,” De Jong recalled. Flick’s defensive system was also criticized in the 2024/25 campaign. He heard that with that approach I wouldn’t beat a team like Madrid with attackers like Vinicius and Mbappé, but he won the four Clásicos; or that he would not go far, and he won the League, Cup and Super Cup. In the Champions League, they remained in the semifinals against Inter in a tie in which they conceded seven goals, but that was decided because the Italians had a goalkeeper, Sommer, who, despite conceding six, had two incredible games, on the return leg.
Celta is the next to test the defensive balance of the Catalans. One thing is clear: the defensive line will continue to be close to the center of the field.
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