Barcelona squad engaging in ‘candid and straightforward’ discussions to address recent struggles – Hansi Flick

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick stated that there have been “open and honest” discussions with his players as the Spanish champions work to realign their season following consecutive losses.

Barça experienced a 4-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal last week, followed by a 2-1 loss to Girona in LaLiga on Monday.

This sequence of results has allowed Real Madrid to overtake them at the top of the standings ahead of their match against Levante at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday.

“After two defeats, and also not the best performances, it was beneficial to have two days off this week,” Flick remarked during a news conference on Saturday.

“We need to regain our confidence. It’s typical to have doubts about your performances when you lose and do not play well.”

“We had very honest and open conversations two days ago and again today. This is crucial for the upcoming matches. We must possess the desire to win these games.”

Following the loss in Girona, Barça’s players were granted Tuesday and Wednesday off.

They resumed training on Thursday, when the first team meeting took place, with another discussion occurring before Saturday’s session as Flick sought feedback from the players regarding recent issues.

“Everyone is convinced about what we are doing,” Flick added when asked if the players still supported his approach of an aggressively high line and intense pressing.

“We were very honest and very open, not just me instructing them; I wanted to hear from them as well. It’s normal. It’s part of my management style.”

“It’s essential because we need leaders on the pitch, so it’s important they can voice their thoughts. I want the players to feel responsible for this situation, and I believe they do.”

Saturday’s discussion extended over an hour, causing training to start later than scheduled and slightly delaying the commencement of Flick’s news conference.

“We concede too many chances from our opponents, so we discussed what we need to improve and what is necessary to get back on track,” he said when asked about the delay.

“It was an open discussion, very significant, but I had to be clear in the end, and I was. It’s important to talk about situations. That’s what we did, and it took a bit longer than usual.”

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Barça will see the return of Marcus Rashford and Pedri from injury against Levante this weekend, while Gavi is also nearing a comeback after training with the team this week for the first time since September.

“Rashford is back, Pedri is back, and with Gavi, it’s a significant step to have him back with the group,” Flick stated. “These are positive developments.”

“Pedri can play some minutes on Sunday. He is a vital player for us. On the field, he provides a different type of leadership due to his quality.”

“[With Gavi it’s] step by step. Hopefully, he will return soon. The physiotherapists are doing an excellent job with him; it’s wonderful to see him back at this level.”