Flick talks first league loss, penalty decisions, Yamal, Lewandowski after Osasuna 4-2 Barcelona | OneFootball

Barcelona faced their first defeat under Hansi Flick in La Liga, losing 4-2 against Osasuna. Flick took full responsibility for the loss, explaining that the team’s lack of rest contributed to the result.

This loss marked the end of an impressive seven-match winning streak in the league, with Barcelona previously being the only team yet to drop points.

“You have to accept these defeats. We have not played very well,” the manager began saying as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

The match against Osasuna at El Sadar proved to be a turning point. Flick admitted that his team did not perform well, and he justified making five changes to the starting lineup, which saw key players like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha on the bench.

“I think it is my responsibility, to protect the players, because they have been playing a lot of minutes.”

Flick acknowledged that while his decision to rotate players might have affected the outcome, his goal was to ensure the squad could recover for future matches.

“But I did not expect us to play like this. I have told the team that we have to move forward. We play on Tuesday, on Sunday… and we are on the right path,” he added.

Looking ahead

Barcelona suffered their first league loss of the season. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Barcelona have a packed schedule, with a game on Tuesday followed by another on Sunday, and Flick stressed the importance of being prepared for the upcoming Champions League clash against Young Boys.

“We have two days to recover. I hope we see the best version of the team. We have to achieve our first victory in the Champions League,” he stressed.

After the match, Flick showed self-awareness about his team’s mistakes, though he expressed disappointment with certain refereeing decisions.

He specifically pointed to Osasuna’s second goal, where Lucas Torro appeared to foul Pau Víctor at the beginning of the play.

Flick admitted that he had not seen the incident clearly but noted that his players believed it was a foul. Despite his frustrations, Flick refrained from heavily criticising the referee, choosing instead to focus on his team’s performance.

“In the second goal, I think there was a foul at the start of the action, I am not completely sure, because I have not been able to see it yet, but it is what I have heard.

“That they score four goals against us is too much. My job is not to talk to the referees.”

More refereeing decisions

Osasuna scored four goals against Barcelona. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Another contentious moment occurred towards the end of the match, where a possible penalty on Lamine Yamal was not given.

Flick, sitting on the bench, said he didn’t have a good view of the incident but trusted the officials’ decision and VAR’s involvement. He downplayed the controversy, opting not to dwell on the referees’ decisions.

“I’m sitting out and I don’t have a good view. It could have been a foul, but it’s the referee who decides, and there’s also the VAR. Things are like that and I don’t give it any more importance,” he added.

Flick also faced questions about his decision to substitute Robert Lewandowski when the score was 1-2, as Barcelona were still chasing the game.

He defended his decision by explaining that Lewandowski, like the other players, needed rest due to the demanding schedule, and the substitution was made for his well-being.

“He also needs rest. That’s how it is. Everyone needs rest. He’s tough, but every three days we have a match and we do it for his own good.”

In summary, Barcelona’s first defeat under Flick highlighted the physical demands on the team and the challenges of managing a congested fixture list.

Flick, while disappointed, took responsibility for the loss and remained positive about the road ahead, particularly in the Champions League.