Hansi Flick blasts Barcelona ‘mistakes’ after Girona defeat as title race pressure mounts
There are defeats that sting, and then there are defeats that linger.
Barcelona’s 2–1 loss away to Girona on Sunday night felt like the latter — not just because of the late controversy, not just because of the missed chances, but because of what it might mean in a tightening La Liga title race. And afterwards, Hansi Flick made it clear where he believed the blame lay.
Not with the referee.
Not with VAR.
But with his own players.
Hansi Flick blasts Barcelona’s many ‘mistakes’ in Girona defeat
At the Estadi Montilivi, the Catalan derby delivered tension, drama and no shortage of flashpoints. Barcelona took the lead, controlled stretches of the game and still walked away empty-handed. Flick did not sugar-coat it.
“Our positioning, especially in midfield, wasn’t good,” he admitted post-match. “We were too open. We made a lot of mistakes.”
It was a blunt assessment, and an honest one.
Barcelona had gone in front just before the hour mark. Pau Cubarsí, rising highest from a Jules Koundé cross, looped a header beautifully into the top corner. It was a defender’s goal — unexpected, precise, and for a brief moment, calming.
But derbies have a habit of turning quickly. Girona responded almost immediately. Thomas Lemar reacted sharply inside the box to tap home the equaliser, and suddenly Montilivi had rediscovered its voice.
From there, Barcelona never quite looked settled again.
Girona defeat exposes Barcelona’s defensive fragility
Girona FC v FC Barcelona – LaLiga EA Sports
If Flick’s frustration centred on “mistakes,” the decisive moment captured exactly what he meant.
In the 86th minute, substitute Fran Beltrán struck what proved to be the winner. The move, however, was shrouded in controversy. Barcelona’s players were incensed, claiming that Claudio Echeverri had fouled Koundé in the build-up. The referee allowed play to continue, VAR conducted its review, and the goal stood.
From the touchline, Flick’s reaction was restrained. In the press room, he was pointed but measured.
“What do you think? A foul, right? No need to say anything more,” he said.
But he refused to go further.
“If we had played well, I could criticize the decision… but I don’t want it to be used as an excuse.”
It would have been easy to hide behind the officiating. Many coaches would have done so. Instead, Flick chose self-criticism over deflection. That, perhaps, says something about where he sees his team right now.
Because the truth is, Barcelona had opportunities long before the late controversy.
Lamine Yamal, usually so composed beyond his years, missed a first-half penalty when the score was still 0–0. His effort crashed back off the post. It was a rare blemish from a teenager who has carried himself like a veteran all season.
Moments like that matter. In matches this tight, they linger.
Girona, to their credit, did not wilt. Michel’s side played with urgency and conviction, especially in transition. Even when reduced to 10 men in stoppage time — Joel Roca shown a straight red for a lunging challenge on Yamal — they held firm.
Michel was quick to reject any suggestion that his team’s victory hinged on one refereeing call.
“I think it’s unfair to talk about just one play after the spectacle we saw,” he said.
And from Girona’s perspective, he has a point.
Title hopes take a hit after Girona defeat
This was not just a derby defeat. It was a strategic setback.
Barcelona now trail Real Madrid by two points at the top of La Liga. In isolation, that gap is manageable. In context, it feels heavier.
Real Madrid have strung together eight straight league victories. Their consistency has been relentless. Dropping points against a Girona side fighting near the relegation zone is the kind of slip that can define a title race in April and May.
Flick acknowledged the broader picture.
“There’s a long way to go; we’re currently in second place,” he said, trying to temper the immediate frustration.
But the timing could not be worse. The loss compounds a miserable week that also included a bruising 4–0 Copa del Rey defeat against Atletico Madrid. Momentum, so vital at this stage of the season, has shifted.
Barcelona looked lethargic in stretches at Montilivi. Their midfield, usually a source of control, appeared stretched. Too often there were gaps between the lines, too often Girona found space to exploit.
For a coach who values compactness and structure, that will be particularly galling.
Hansi Flick refuses to use refereeing errors as ‘excuse’
He could have built his post-match narrative around the Koundé incident. He chose not to.
That decision matters inside a dressing room.
By placing the focus on collective responsibility rather than officiating grievances, Flick is sending a message: control what you can control. Defend better. Position better. Finish your chances.
It is a managerial approach rooted in accountability. Whether the players respond positively will shape the weeks ahead.
There are mitigating factors. Barcelona remain without full strength in key areas. Flick hinted that reinforcements are on the horizon. Pedri’s return would restore composure and tempo in midfield. Marcus Rashford, also nearing fitness, could inject pace and unpredictability in attack.
Both were sorely missed against Girona.
Flick has promised his squad two days off to “reset and improve.” In a long season, sometimes mental clarity is as important as tactical tweaks.
A defining stretch ahead for Barcelona
The fixture list offers no margin for further error.
Levante visit next Sunday, and what might once have been considered a routine home game now carries added weight. Barcelona cannot afford another stumble, not with Real Madrid setting such a relentless pace.
For Girona, meanwhile, this was more than three points. It was survival fuel. The victory lifts them to 12th, five points clear of the drop zone. Michel described it as their best performance of the season — a bold claim, but one that felt justified by the intensity and courage they showed.
For Barcelona, the questions are sharper.
Are they mentally strong enough to absorb setbacks without spiralling? Can they tighten defensively while maintaining attacking fluency? And perhaps most importantly, can they rediscover the calm authority that title winners require?
Hansi Flick has chosen introspection over outrage. He has blasted Barcelona’s “mistakes” rather than the referee. That stance may not quiet every supporter frustrated by the controversial winner, but it sets a tone.
The season is not lost. The gap is narrow. The talent remains undeniable.
But as the business end approaches, perfection becomes less a luxury and more a necessity.
And in Girona, Barcelona were anything but perfect.
There are no comments yet. Be the first to comment!