Hansi Flick admitted that Barcelona weren’t at Paris Saint-Germain’s degree of their 2-1 Champions League loss on Wednesday.
Barcelona took the lead within the nineteenth minute via Ferran Torres, however they have been pegged again earlier than the break by Senny Mayulu, earlier than Goncalo Ramos netted a late winner for the reigning champions.
It was simply the second Ninetieth-minute successful purpose in opposition to Barcelona in Champions League historical past, and the primary ever scored away from dwelling in opposition to the Blaugrana in any main European competitors.
Barca have solely misplaced three of their final 52 Champions League matches when scoring the opening purpose – all three have been at dwelling to PSG (beforehand 1-4 in February 2021 and 1-4 in April 2024).
Flick’s facet dominated within the first half, and he acknowledged {that a} quieter second half had finally value them.
“We began very nicely, however after half-hour they managed the sport higher, and we dissolved,” Flick stated. “Within the second half, they have been higher, and we weren’t at our greatest.
“We are able to’t say we’re at their [PSG’s] degree. However I imagine in my crew, and we didn’t see our greatest. We misplaced, however we wish to get again to our greatest, and that’s why we’ve got to coach and enhance. We’ll see what we did improper.
“We didn’t have our construction within the second half. We have now to coach and enhance. The sport helps us lots. I’m positive we will play like PSG, however we’ve got to carry on.
“The entire crew has to assault; everybody has to defend. At PSG, everybody is aware of the way to exploit area, the way to play two-on-one.”
One constructive for Barcelona was that Torres’ purpose means they’ve now scored in 45 consecutive matches in all competitions, a run stretching again to December 2024. It’s their longest scoring run of their complete historical past.
Marcus Rashford has performed his position in that run lately – he has been concerned in seven targets in his final seven video games for membership and nation (three targets, 4 assists), aiding in every of his final three outings for Barcelona.
However Flick didn’t wish to concentrate on the document because it couldn’t be celebrated with a victory.
“I don’t wish to take into consideration the document,” Flick stated. “We misplaced, and I don’t like dropping. We might have scored extra. We have now to simply accept defeat.
“When you’re drained, what occurred within the second half occurs. Their philosophy is improbable; their younger gamers are additionally excellent.
“They got here in with contemporary legs and raised their degree, not lowered it. We’ll discuss on Friday to see what we have to enhance.”
