Barcelona coach Hansi Flick reaffirmed his commitment to the club’s attacking philosophy after Wednesday’s 3-3 draw against Club Brugge in the Champions League, dismissing calls to adopt a more conservative approach despite another shaky defensive display.
The Catalan side trailed three times at the Jan Breydel Stadium, with all of Brugge’s goals coming from quick transitions that exposed Barça’s high defensive line. The result extended Barcelona’s run to nine matches without a clean sheet — their longest such streak since 2013.
Criticism of Flick’s high-risk tactics has grown amid the club’s recent inconsistency, but the German coach insisted after the match that he will not abandon the proactive, high-intensity football that defines Barcelona’s identity.
“We can play with a low block and defend deep, but that’s not our way,” Flick said at his post-match press conference. “We want to stay true to our philosophy — intensity, pressing, and being active with and without the ball. If there’s no intensity, you have no chance in the Champions League.”
Flick admitted that the team is struggling to regain confidence and control in midfield, areas that have left the back line vulnerable to opposition counter-attacks. He noted that the solution lies in improving execution rather than changing the team’s style.
“We don’t win enough duels in midfield, so it’s difficult for our defenders to manage fast transitions,” he added. “We have to analyse this and work harder. It’s not about changing everything — I’m not that kind of coach.”
The 59-year-old manager expressed optimism that the team’s form will improve once several key players return from injury. Flick mentioned Raphinha, Pedri, Dani Olmo, and Robert Lewandowski among those expected to strengthen the squad after the upcoming international break.
“We know it’s not the best moment for the team, but I’m positive,” he said. “When our injured players are back, we can reach another level.”
The draw leaves Barcelona second in LaLiga, five points behind leaders Real Madrid, and 11th in the Champions League standings with seven points from four games.
Midfielder Frenkie de Jong echoed his manager’s sentiments, acknowledging the team’s defensive lapses but urging patience and focus on improvement rather than overhaul.
“We’re weak on the counter right now — maybe it’s positioning, maybe tracking runners — probably a bit of everything,” De Jong told reporters. “But we don’t need to change our entire approach. We just need to execute better.”
The Dutch international also said it was time to move on from comparisons to last season, when Barcelona’s attacking football delivered a domestic treble but fell short in Europe.
“Last year is in the past,” he said. “We weren’t the best team in Europe then either, and we didn’t win the Champions League. We have to improve now, not look back.”
Flick’s insistence on maintaining Barcelona’s “DNA” underscores his belief that long-term success depends on staying loyal to the club’s traditional attacking principles — even as results and defensive frailties invite scrutiny.
