Barcelona coach Hansi Flick noted that his team will focus on improving their defensive strategies in the upcoming season after their dramatic 4-3 victory over Real Madrid in the La Liga Clasico on Sunday.
This hard-fought win placed Barcelona on the cusp of securing the league title, opening up a seven-point lead over second-placed Madrid with just three games remaining.
Flick, who has led his side through a rollercoaster of a season, acknowledged that while the result was positive, there’s work to be done—especially in defence. Despite the Catalan giants showing remarkable attacking flair, the German coach admitted that their defensive organization has not been up to the mark.
“It’s not been easy for us to work on some things in training. I know that we have to improve (defensively) and we will do it next season,” Flick told reporters following the win.
Barcelona’s defensive frailties were evident, not only in this latest Clasico, where Real Madrid had multiple late chances to equalize, but also in their recent Champions League exit.
Inter Milan knocked them out of the semi-finals with a 4-3 win, exploiting gaps in the backline. The aggregate scoreline of 7-6 over two legs tells the story of both Barcelona’s attacking brilliance and defensive instability.
The team’s aggressive playing style, especially their high defensive line, has come under scrutiny. Real Madrid forwards like Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior found joy breaking through, and though Mbappé had two goals ruled out, he still managed a hat-trick, further exposing the backline’s vulnerabilities.
Still, Flick pointed out that the problem lies deeper than just individual performances. “I think this journey that we started last year, it’s not over — I know that we have to improve a lot in defence,” he said. “It has nothing to do with the back four. When we make mistakes, Real have fantastic offensive players.”
Despite the defensive concerns, Barcelona’s offensive output has been exceptional. They’ve scored 16 goals against Real Madrid in their four meetings this season, winning each encounter. That kind of firepower has kept them afloat and placed them on the brink of clinching the La Liga title.
Barcelona could secure the trophy as early as Thursday with a win against city rivals Espanyol. If Real Madrid drop points against Mallorca on Wednesday, Barça could be crowned champions even sooner. Flick knows the job isn’t done yet but remains confident.
“It’s football, you don’t know what happens, but we’re in a good position and we need three more points,” he noted. “This is what we want to do as soon as possible, but every match will be tough, every opponent wants to win against us. But we have the quality and when we play like today, I think we can get there.”
Flick also admitted the emotional toll of these dramatic games, saying, “For me, it’s not always fun, sometimes I really suffer a lot.” But with the title in sight and a commitment to fixing the flaws, Barcelona’s coach is already looking ahead to a stronger, more balanced side next season.
