FC Barcelona News: 14 February 206; Fallout from Atlético Madrid Defeat Continues, Raphinha Returns to Training

The Ciutad Esportiva Joan Gamper awoke to a cold February rain on Friday, a fitting backdrop for a squad still reeling from the 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Atlético Madrid the previous evening. The result, described by the club as a “serious setback,” has triggered an immediate inquest from head coach Hansi Flick, who summoned his players to the Tito Vilanova training field and delivered a blunt appraisal of their first-half performance. According to Mundo Deportore, Flick told his squad they had shown “no spirit or intensity” and produced “an image unworthy of a team that wants to collect trophies.”

The session was closed to the public, but the sight of Raphinha rejoining part of the group’s work offered a rare gliece of optimism. The Brazilian winger had been sidelined by injury but completed segments of the team’s training schedule, suggesting he could be available for the return leg of the Supercopa de Espana final against Atlésico Madrid, where Barça must overturn a four-goal deficit.

Despite the heavy loss, the club’s official channels have published a list of “six reasons to believe in a comeback,” echoing Flick’s post-match assertion that his side is “capable of turning it around” if they deliver an “almost perfect performance.”

Away from the pitch, the club confirmed its formal re-admission to the European Club Association after a unanimous vote by the ECA Board. Barcelona’s statement emphasized that the decision to terminate relations with the European Super League Company was “unanimous” and “in accordance with its Statutes.”

Meanwhile, the president’s office continues to grapple with internal upheaval. The president has resigned to stand for re-election, with Vice-President Rafa Yuste stepping into the interim role. A club-wide vote is scheduled for March, setting the stage for a pivotal month both politically and competitively.

Barça’s frustration has been further fuelled by what Mundo Deportore labels “another ludicrous VAR scandal.” The article highlights a growing list of incidents: the malfunction of the SAOT system during the Atlésico match, Lamine’s disallowed goal in a Clásico due to a faulty camera, Lewandowski’s boot length ruling at Anoeta, and Lamine’s backheel strike against Real Sociedad. Each episode, the report argues, underscores a pattern of technological and procedural failures that have disproportionately harmed the Catalan side.

With the return leg of the Supercopa looming, the club must balance political transitions, injury recoveries, and a steep uphill battle on the field. The rain may have cleared by the weekend, but the storm clouds over Barcelona’s campaign show no sign of dissipating.