Hansi Flick admits Sevilla defeat painful but Barcelona boss pleased with players’ response to loss

Barcelona suffered a second consecutive league defeat on Sunday, slumping to a heavy 4-1 loss against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

A win would have sent Hansi Flick’s side back to the summit of La Liga, but the Catalan giants instead put in one of their most disappointing displays of the season.

Speaking to Diario AS after the match, the Barcelona boss reflected on the setback and admitted his players were deeply affected by the result.

“They came out aggressive in the first half and we didn’t find any way out. I think that in the second half we reacted. We have to focus on what we have done wrong and fight so that this does not happen again.

“I think we are a team, the injured players will return and I value the reaction of the second half. We’re not happy because it’s hard to lose, but I want to see it this way.

“What I’ve seen in the dressing room are players who want to react, I’ve seen them with anger and I like that. The break is next, we’ll come back and see if we can react.”

Flick downplays severity of defeat

When asked whether the result ranked as his most difficult defeat since taking charge of Barcelona in the summer of 2024, Flick was quick to point elsewhere.

“The toughest was surely the semi-final in Milan (against Inter). I have to accept this defeat and I look at it from the positive side.

“We have to change things that we are not doing well, especially the mistakes of the first half. We have not had control in some spaces. But it is not the most difficult defeat.”

The German coach acknowledged that Sevilla had taken advantage of Barcelona’s defensive lapses early on, leaving his team chasing the game before showing some improvement after the break.

International break arrives at useful time

Flick also welcomed the timing of the upcoming international break, suggesting it could benefit both the squad and their recovery process.

“It’s good to have it, that they go with the national teams, have a different atmosphere.

“That will be the positive thing. And what I’ve told them is that when they come back, we’ll work hard to get our level back. But we also need the players to be 100%.”