German coach Hansi Flick, who leads Barcelona’s football team, faced his second career defeat in the Champions League. The final whistle just sounded on Barcelona’s match against French side Monaco at Louis II Stadium in the tournament’s first round.
According to the Catalan newspaper “Sport,” Flick was unusually furious with goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, directly confronting him in the locker room after the match. Flick criticized Ter Stegen for his risky passes that endangered his teammates, specifically leading to Eric Garcia’s red card.
Additionally, club president Joan Laporta also entered the locker room post-match and told Ter Stegen that he was the worst player on the pitch, holding him largely responsible for the defeat against Monaco.
Laporta criticized Flick for delaying substitutions, particularly regarding Lewandowski, who, alongside Ter Stegen, underperformed. He urged Flick to make quicker decisions, noting that Lewandowski’s poor performance hindered the team.
Flick responded honestly, expressing concerns that players like Ter Stegen, Ferran Torres, and Inigo Martinez could lead to more defeats, with Ter Stegen’s form being especially detrimental to the season.
Flick also urged Laporta to secure strong signings for both the attack and defense, warning that without them, Barcelona could end up without any titles, similar to last season. Despite the loss, Flick praised young star Marc Casado for his effort in managing the numerical disadvantage and competing fiercely in midfield.
