Barcelona boss Flick blames fatigue after Champions League defeat to PSG
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said fatigue played a decisive role in his side’s 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday, admitting his players could not maintain the level needed against the holders.
Ferran Torres opened the scoring for the hosts at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc, but PSG drew level before halftime through 19-year-old midfielder Senny Mayulu and secured victory when Gonçalo Ramos struck in the final minutes.
“We played much better in the first half than in the second,” Flick told reporters afterwards. “We conceded too much possession because we was tired. The truth is PSG is a great team, they have very young and fast players, and they played a fantastic game.”
Flick, who took charge of Barcelona in the summer, acknowledged the turning point came after Mayulu’s equaliser in the 38th minute.
“After 35 minutes PSG had better control of the match. I don’t think we played at our best. But that’s also important in the Champions League. They deserved to win,” he said.
Barcelona, semi-finalists in last season’s competition, are targeting a first European title since 2015 but Flick conceded the squad is still adjusting to the demands.
“I think you could see in the second half some players was very tired. Pedri, Frenkie [de Jong]… but everyone gave their all on the pitch. At 1-1 we needed a better defensive structure. We have to learn and improve,” he said.
“When you’re a little tired it shows. I don’t think we can say we are at the same level as PSG, but I believe in my team, and we didn’t show our best,” Flick added.
The defeat leaves Barcelona needing to respond in the group phase as they aim to progress to the knockout rounds. PSG, meanwhile, returned to Paris with three points and praise from their coach Luis Enrique, who managed Barcelona to their last Champions League crown in 2015.
“They are among the contenders to win the Champions League,” Enrique said when asked about his former club. “They are playing fantastically, at a very high level, and this is just the beginning. There are few teams with such a clear identity. Barça and we are contenders, but the knockout stages will reveal how each team fares.”
Enrique described the match as an “excellent” contest between two sides committed to attacking football.
“When you see two teams play that don’t kick each other, that try to play and to hurt with the ball, it’s a very complete match,” he said. “They was superior until they scored the goal. We recovered, Nuno [Mendes] made an incredible play for the equaliser. I think we was better in the second half.”
PSG, who lifted the Champions League last season for the first time in their history, continue their defence with another group game later this month. Barcelona, still searching for their first European crown in over a decade, face a quick turnaround to recover in the competition.