"Gentle" FC Barcelona Coach Flick Criticized by Displeased Supporters for Rewarding Team Following Defeat to Leganes
"Gentle" FC Barcelona Coach Flick Criticized by Displeased Supporters for Rewarding Team Following Defeat to Leganes
FC Barcelona supporters have criticized head coach Hansi Flick online for allegedly rewarding his players following a lackluster 1-0 defeat to Leganes on Sunday in La Liga.
Barca benefited greatly from Rayo Vallecano's surprising comeback against Real Madrid the day prior, as Los Blancos overcame a 2-0 deficit to eventually lead 3-2 but still dropped points due to a late equalizer by Isi Palazon.
Barca had the opportunity to put some distance between themselves and Madrid by beating relegation-threatened Leganes in Montjuic, in a late-night match that drew the club's smallest home crowd of the season.
Despite their early goal by Sergio Poirrier, Barca struggled to respond to their supposedly weaker opposition, with midfielder Pedri bemoaning a "messed up game."
"It's just not possible to leave satisfied today. I think we started a bit sleepy, they scored against us in the first four minutes. Then we woke up, created chances, but lacked the spark," the number 8 griped to Catalan media outlet TV3.
"We need to get into the games better. When a team scores quickly, they put a lot of people behind the ball. And we lacked the spark I mentioned and clarity in front of goal. We're on a losing streak and we need to improve," he then added.
In the hours following the final whistle, Mundo Deportivo reported, citing unnamed sources, that Flick would give his team a two-day break.
The paper explained that the players had no days off following their 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, and even trained the day after the triumph in Germany.
The purpose of the short holiday is for the players to recharge their batteries and give their all against second-placed Atletico Madrid on Saturday. However, some Barca fans are not pleased, viewing the rest period as a reward for poor performance.
The comments section of the Mundo Deportivo article is filled with criticism, with JoResistencia accusing Flick of engaging in "bad business" by granting two days off for every defeat.
"He's already getting soft!," Declan80 opined. "They should watch the video of the defeat over and over again today! Two days off, come on!"
"I think they need to work on their physical fitness again, they're so unfit they can't even compete with U-13s. But no, they need to rest because the team is 'very, very' tired. FLICK OUT ALREADY," JPP23 scoffed.
Other fans drew comparisons to how Flick's predecessor, Xavi Hernandez, would have been criticized had he taken similar action.
Yet, with Atletico Madrid appearing to be in top form at the moment and Flick unable to control his team due to a suspension, further unrest may be on the horizon ahead of the Christmas break.
- Despite the criticism from Barca fans, Real Madrid's Xavi Hernandez might have handled the situation differently if he were in Hansi Flick's position.
- Pedri, Barca's midfielder, expressed his frustrations about the team's performance against Leganes, mentioning the lack of clarity in front of goal and the need for improvement before the game against Atletico Madrid.
- Hansi Flick's decision to give his team a two-day break after the defeat to Leganes has sparked controversy, with fans comparing it unfavorably to how Xavi Hernandez would have handled such a situation.