Hansi Flick comments on VAR controversy after Barcelona’s defeat to Atlético.

Barcelona experienced a true nightmare last Thursday, suffering a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Now, the Catalans face the daunting task of overturning this four-goal deficit if they wish to keep alive their hopes of defending the title won in the previous season. The second leg is scheduled for Spotify Camp Nou and promises to be a true test of resilience for the team.

After the final whistle, coach Hansi Flick was eager to share his thoughts on the team’s performance during the press conference. His analysis was clear: “We did not play well in the first half, we did not play as a team. The gap between them and us was large. We did not press. And in the first 45 minutes, we learned a big lesson. The end was better. We have two more halves and we will fight. If we win 2-0 in each half… we will need our fans at home.” Despite the defeat, Flick remained optimistic and highlighted the importance of perseverance.

“I am not disappointed with the team. I am happy with the team’s season. We have had many injuries. Losing is also part of the game. It was a painful defeat, but I am proud of the team. We have to learn the lesson. They were hungrier to score. And that is how I want us to be. We did not do that in the first 45 minutes. But the team is young, and I do not make excuses,” he stated.

A controversy did not end there. Flick was also questioned about the decision to disallow Pau Cubarsi’s goal after an endless VAR check that lasted eight minutes. The coach did not hold back his criticism: “We started with yellow cards, the first action on Balde was clear. Everything would have been different if he had shown it. By not doing so, he invites them to play like that. It’s a mess. Waiting seven minutes? Oh, please. Did they find something in those seven minutes? Okay. When I see this situation, it was clear that there was no offside. Maybe they saw something different. Then tell us. There is no communication. It’s very bad here.”

With these statements, Hansi Flick not only expressed his frustration with the team’s performance but also raised serious questions about the effectiveness and transparency of VAR in modern football. The Barcelona coach now faces the challenge of motivating his players for the second leg, where every moment will count and the pressure will be fierce. Barcelona’s future in the competition is at stake, and the team’s response after this setback will be crucial for their destiny.