Barcelona feels a mix of disappointment and pride as their Copa comeback against Atleti ultimately falls short.
Hansi Flick expressed feeling “disappointed but proud” after Barcelona narrowly missed achieving a remarkable comeback against Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, ultimately falling short of a spot in the Copa del Rey final.
With two goals from Marc Bernal and a penalty from Raphinha, Barça secured a 3-0 victory at Spotify Camp Nou, but lost the tie 4-3 on aggregate following last month’s four-goal defeat in Madrid.
Atlético will advance to the final in Seville in April, where they will face the winner of Wednesday’s Basque derby between Real Sociedad and Athletic Club.
“We are disappointed, but we can take great pride in the performance we delivered,” Flick stated during the post-match press conference. “It was an incredible game from us, and we created numerous opportunities to score additional goals. In the end, it didn’t materialize, and we must accept that.”
Fermín López, Raphinha, Bernal, Ferran Torres, and Lamine Yamal all had early opportunities as Barça started strong, registering 13 shots on goal in the first half.
Bernal eventually opened the scoring in the 29th minute, finishing a superb cross from Yamal, and when Raphinha converted a penalty just before halftime, the home crowd chanted “Yes we can.”
A second goal of the evening from teenager Bernal set the stage for a frantic final 20 minutes, but Barça could not secure a fourth goal, which would have taken the tie to extra time, with their best chance missed by Gerard Martín in stoppage time.
“Typically, this level is the standard, but we must demonstrate it in every match,” Flick added. “It’s not guaranteed; it requires hard work.”
Bernal, one of the standout players of the evening, has now netted four goals in his last five matches and is approaching his peak form again after being sidelined for over a year due to an ACL injury.
“Marc had an outstanding game today,” Flick remarked. “This is the mentality I expect from him because he is a remarkable talent. With the ball and in buildup play, he is exceptional. Today…it was fantastic, really impressive to witness.”
Barça’s performance was marred by injuries to Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde. Koundé had to leave the field in the first half, and Balde, who replaced him, was substituted after the break.
Both players will undergo assessments on Thursday to evaluate the extent of their injuries.
“They are out,” Flick said when asked for an update on their condition. “I don’t know [how long for]. We will have to wait until tomorrow to know for certain.”
“Everyone was exhausted because they gave everything on the pitch. They put in more than 100%. The supporters are pleased with this match, perhaps also a bit disappointed, but that is normal. Everyone played with their whole heart for this club, and it’s wonderful to see.”
Being eliminated from the Copa means Flick will miss out on a domestic trophy in Spain for the first time since taking over as Barcelona coach in 2024.
He secured LaLiga, the Copa, and the Spanish Supercopa in his inaugural season, followed by a second Supercopa in Saudi Arabia in January.
Nonetheless, Barça still has much to strive for this season. They are four points ahead at the top of LaLiga and will face Newcastle United next week in the Champions League round of 16.
“There is a long way to go in La Liga and the Champions League,” Flick stated. “We have a formidable opponent ahead, Newcastle, a strong team. Every three or four days, we have a match, and this is our focus for the upcoming weeks and months.”
“We aim to participate in many matches in the Champions League, so we must approach it this way. Recovery, concentrating on our tasks, and that is what I want to see from the team. The quality we displayed today is remarkable; it is truly impressive. I am very proud of my team, and it is fantastic.”
