Barcelona after two defeats: Barbecues, honesty and the search for answers

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Barcelona had previously completed an 11-game winning run in Spain before El Clásico. The record from its first 11 wins was 44:10. Then came the defeats at Paris Saint-Germain and against Real Madrid within five days. In his first assessment, Hansi Flick admitted that the team was not good enough in either of the two major matches.

One specific point stood out to him: recovery. After the 5:2 away win over Real Betis on Saturday, October 17, Barca first had to wait three hours on the runway at Seville Airport following a difficult journey back to Barcelona. Because of the poor weather, the team also had to spend an additional night in the Andalusian city. The flight only departed on Sunday morning. After a brief recovery session, they traveled on to Paris less than 24 hours later for Tuesday evening’s match, which they lost 4:2.

Flick’s assessment was unusually direct: “It was clear that we were not fresh enough. I do not want any excuses, and I am saying this reluctantly now – I would rather be complaining after a win –, but the truth is that we were not fresh enough, and we have to change that now.” He also pointed to the two consecutive defeats and said: “We are disappointed, but we have to accept it.”

The Athletic reports that the players and backroom staff organized a shared lunch after Wednesday’s training session at the Joan Gamper training center. The club provided a barbecue for the squad and coaching staff. A man close to the first team said: “We were not the best in history, and we are not terrible now either. Moments like this happen during a season. It is very long, and, as the manager said, it is important to be in shape in April and May.”

Why the defense has become the most urgent problem

The barbecue was the visible part of a larger problem. Barcelona has not played a single game without conceding a goal in the Champions League since April of the previous year. The situation was compounded by the injuries to Xavi Espart, Eric Garcia, Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen. Espart is 19 years old and is expected to be out for seven weeks because of an ankle injury.

Several sources close to the players say that the defensive performances have declined. If several starters are missing, Flick’s high-pressing system can expose defensive weaknesses. This also applies to the center-backs Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin, who have recently struggled. Martin is naturally a converted left-back. Barcelona did not sign a natural left-footed center-back during the summer.

The club is said to have explored the possibility of a move for Alessandro Bastoni from Inter Milan during the current transfer window. However, according to information from The Athletic, Flick decided not to pursue the signing of the Italian center-back any further.

Squad options for Alavés

For the next home match against seventh-placed Alavés, Flick has only four center-backs available: João Cancelo, Cubarsi, Martin and Alejandro Balde. Cancelo is naturally a right-back, while Martin and Balde can also play in defense in other positions.

Another option is Álex Campos. The 18-year-old Barça Atlétic center-back was already on the bench for the matches against PSG and Real Madrid. Hafiz Gariba, 19 years old, could also step in. Along with Campos, he made a strong start to the season in Spain’s third division. Gariba also completed the preseason with the first team but missed more than a week because of a viral illness and did not join the training camp at England’s St George’s Park.

Flick also mentioned Frenkie de Jong as another possible center-back. The 29-year-old Dutch midfielder has already played the position in several training sessions. Rodri also failed to show his usual dominance in the El Clásico match. Pedri was unusually imprecise in both matches, while Raphinha returned only a month ago after a thigh injury and has not yet regained his best form.

Barcelona remains atop the league as the Champions League tightens

Despite the two setbacks, Barcelona remain at the top of La Liga, two points ahead of Atlético Madrid and three points ahead of Real Madrid. In the Champions League, the first eight places in the league phase qualify automatically for the round of 16 in March. There are still five games before Christmas. Aston Villa and Manchester City will both play at the Camp Nou.

After Wednesday’s training session, the squad work was therefore not yet complete. The barbecue brought the team together. The defensive crisis, the injuries and the lack of freshness also show where Flick must make his most important decisions over the next few days. The immediate benchmark is the home match against Alavés. After that, a match against Villa and an away trip to Atlético await in the next six days, providing two more demanding tasks.