Flick holds important meeting with Barcelona staff and squad after back-to-back losses

Barcelona’s dressing room was summoned to an unusually long, closed-door gathering on Thursday morning as coach Hansi Flick attempted to halt the club’s slide following two damaging defeats. The session, described by staff as a “group therapy” style reset, lasted more than an hour and delayed the day’s on-pitch work until after midday.

The meeting came on the back of a bruising 4-0 Copa del Rey semifinal first-leg loss to Atlético Madrid and a 2-1 league reversal at Girona that cost the Catalans top spot in the table, leaving Real Madrid in first place. After granting the squad a 60-hour break designed to clear heads, Flick used the first day back to refocus minds rather than feet, stressing the high-pressing, positionally disciplined style that had underpinned earlier victories. He also warned against conceding possession in vulnerable zones and reiterated the need for flawless tactical spacing.

Players were not allowed onto the training pitch until around 12:10 PM, underscoring the manager’s conviction that the immediate priority was psychological and strategic recalibration. With Sunday’s visit of Levante looming, the timing is critical: midfielder Pedri has rejoined full training and will be available, while two other key teammates have also returned to normal workouts, offering Flick timely reinforcements for the must-win fixture.

Barcelona now hope the rare mid-season pause and candid discussions will translate into an immediate response on the pitch and keep their silverware hopes alive on two fronts.