Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has challenged his players to bounce back from their ‘dreadful’ first half performance in the 4-1 defeat to Sevilla on Sunday.
The La Liga champions suffered their second consecutive defeat in all competitions and their first of the league season, as they were thrashed at the Ramon Sanchez -Pizjuan.
Barca were without two of their first-choice attackers, with both Lamine Yamal and Raphinha sidelined with injury, while goalkeeper Joan Garcia was also out of the encounter.
A shambolic first half display saw them fall two goals behind, before conceding two more in stoppage time, as their unbeaten start to the league season ended.
“The first half was not good for us. They played one against one against us and they were very aggressive so we had no solution to play out”, Flick said after the match.
“It was really not good. But in the second half the reaction was good. I appreciate a lot what we did, how we played and it was really good to see.”
Veteran forward Alexis Sanchez opened the scoring from the spot, before Isaac Romero doubled the hosts lead in the first half.
The in-form Marcus Rashford pulled a goal back for Barcelona in first half stoppage time, as they headed into the break 2-1 down.
Robert Lewandowski missed the chance to equalize for the visitors when he missed from the spot kick, before Sevilla added two late goals through Jose Carmona and Akor Adams to seal a comprehensive win.
“The most important thing is the reaction and the emotion — also in the dressing room — that I see,” he added.
“It’s important that we keep that and that when we start again after the break we will fight. We will fight for every title. So it will be for the Champions League, for the Copa [del Rey], for the Supercopa and of course for LaLiga. This is what we want.
“I think we are a good team. Players will come back, and so we go on. It’s positive, and we work hard, and this is what we have to do”, Flick concluded.
Barcelona are back in action after the international break, with a clash against Girona on the 18th of October.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
