Barcelona director delivers honest assessment after consecutive losses – ‘We’re not as magnificent as last season’ | OneFootball

Barcelona sporting director Deco has offered a candid reflection following the team’s recent setbacks, a 1-4 defeat against Sevilla in La Liga and the Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

Speaking to Catalunya Radio’s Tot Costa programme (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Deco’s remarks captured the mood inside the Camp Nou: determined but self-critical.

“We’re not as magnificent or as lush as people painted us last season,” Deco admitted.

“Yes, we are a great team when we work, when we all work together, but not when we are not able to sacrifice ourselves for our teammates, which often happens.”

The sporting director’s honesty reflects what many inside the club already recognise.

Barcelona have been punished in the final moments of matches not because of a lack of talent, but due to lapses in intensity and teamwork.

The defeats against PSG and Sevilla are now being seen as wake-up calls for Hansi Flick’s squad, who must rediscover the unity and collective hunger that defined their best performances earlier this season.

A call for balance and collective effort

Barcelona have suffered late defensive lapses this season. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Deco’s message is clear that talent alone will not bring success.

“We are a very difficult team to beat when we are like that and we also have quality, but if we believe that quality is ahead of work, we have a problem,” he concluded.

Inside the dressing room, there is an understanding that the recent results must serve as lessons rather than setbacks.

Players like Pedri and Pau Cubarsi have already acknowledged the need for greater intensity, while the coaching staff continues to focus on regaining the physical sharpness and mental focus that make Barcelona so dominant when in rhythm.

With the international break providing valuable time for reflection and recovery, the mood at the club remains optimistic.

The belief is that when Barcelona combine their exceptional quality with the work ethic Deco speaks of, they are not just hard to beat – they are capable of beating anyone in Europe.