Manager calls for reaction and hard work after international break
Hansi Flick has said he was impressed by his side’s response in the second half against Sevilla on Sunday, despite eventually getting thrashed 4-1 by the home side.
Barcelona were missing key wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha through injury and it told as they struggled badly in the first half. Sevilla pressed high, went man-for-man and scored twice through Alexis Sanchez and Isaac Romero.
Marcus Rashford’s volley brought Flick’s side back into it, but Robert Lewandowski missed a chance to draw level with a penalty before Sevilla struck twice late on to seal the win.
“The first half was not good for us,” Flick said afterwards. “They played one against one and were very aggressive. We had no solution to play out. But in the second half, the reaction was good. I appreciate a lot what we did, how we played and it was really good to see.”
The defeat was Barcelona’s second in a week, following their Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain, but Flick said he expected the squad to bounce back after the international break, especially with several key players expected to make their return.
“The most important thing is the reaction and the emotion I see in the dressing room,” he added. “When we start again after the break, we will fight for every title – La Liga, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa.
“Players will come back and we go on. We work hard, we stay positive.”
