‘We defended very badly’ – Hansi Flick gives his verdict on Barcelona’s defeat to Girona

Montilivi, Spain – Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick refused to blame the officials after his side slipped to a 2-1 loss at Girona on Monday night, instead turning the spotlight on his own team’s defensive frailties.

Pau Cubarsi’s first-half header had given the visitors a deserved lead after a dominant opening 45 minutes in which Barcelona spurned a string of clear chances to extend their advantage. Yet the Catalans were punished for their profligacy when Thomas Lemar levelled before the break and Fran Beltran struck what proved to be the winner midway through the second period. Television replays suggested Jules Koundé was fouled in the build-up to Beltran’s goal, but Flick declined to dwell on the controversy.

“I don’t want to speak about that,” he told reporters. “Everyone saw the situation before the second goal, but Girona deserved it. We defended very badly, especially in transition, we were too open, our midfield was not in the right position.”

The German tactician was equally blunt in his assessment of the collective display. “We haven’t been comfortable, we haven’t positioned ourselves well. The team isn’t in a good place right now. We need to calm down, get back to being what we used to be.”

The result leaves Barcelona with back-to-back defeats ahead of Saturday’s visit of Levante, and Flick confirmed the squad will be given two days off in a bid to reset mentally and physically.

Girona, buoyed by a third successive home victory, climb above their neighbours in the standings and will sense an opportunity to consolidate their resurgent form when the sides meet again later in the campaign. For Barcelona, the focus now shifts to arresting a mini-slide before the pressure intensifies.