There will be “no excuses” despite referee controversy, says Flick after Girona 2-1 Barça | OneFootball

Hansi Flick revealed that “everyone is disappointed” after Barcelona fell to a 2-1 defeat against Girona and protested a “clear” foul in the buildup to the winning goal.

The blaugrana had opened the scoring through Pau Cubarsí just before the hour mark, though their lead lasted only two minutes as Thomas Lemar netted his second goal in as many games.

But the controversy arrived with Fran Beltrán’s 86th-minute winner, as Barça felt that Jules Koundé had been fouled by Claudio Echeverri in the buildup.

“I asked [the referee] if it was a clear foul and he said no,” Flick revealed in his post-match press conference.

“This was clear. But it’s like that.

“Maybe I’d fight more when we play good. We don’t play good, so it looks like an excuse.”

In truth, though, this was a match that Barcelona could have wrapped up much earlier if they had capitalised on their chances, including a first-half penalty thrashed against the woodwork by Lamine Yamal.

Reflecting on Barça’s performance, Flick admitted: “We defend very badly, especially in the transition. We were too open, our midfield was not in the right position, and at the end it was not easy for the last four to defend this attack from Girona.

“I thought also that today [if we had] more control and less errors, maybe it’s a totally different game but at the end of the first half, we had some chances [and] also the penalty, but it happens.

“We are not in a good mood, not in a good moment. I gave the team two days off because I think it’s important that they reset, and then we have three days to prepare for the next match [against Levante on Sunday].

“We have to have the hunger to win games. After losing to Atlético, it was more important today to win. We didn’t get this and at the end everybody now is disappointed: the fans, the club, the players, the coaches, the staff [and] you.

“We will fight,” Flick assured the fans, highlighting that “we have time to come back in the next two weeks [because there is] no game between the weekends.”

Defeat at the Estadi Montilivi saw Barcelona concede pole position in the LaLiga standings to Real Madrid, with los Blancos now two points clear at the top of the table.