Barcelona's Young Team Must Learn To Be More Struggling

Young Barcelona players are required to fight more (Instagram/@fcbarcelona).

JAKARTA - Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said his team was under pressure. They have to fight more to turn the three games without a win in La Liga 2024/2025, two losings and one draw.

Barcelona won 11 of their 12 opening league games. However, their lead over Real Madrid has been cut to one point following the loss to Real Sociedad (0-1), a draw against Celta Vigo (2-2), and the home defeat of Las Palmas (1-2) on Saturday, November 30, 2024.

The Blaugrana are now facing three difficult away games. Start the trip to Mallorca on Wednesday (4 December 2024) and visit Real Betis in La Liga on Saturday (7 December 2024), and travel to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on 12 December 2024.

"The team were able to win this match (against Las Palmas), but we didn't."

"Now we are a little depressed. Now the team has to get up. Focus is very important. It's a very young team, the youngest team in La Liga."

"We have to learn that we have to fight to win. If it's a tough game, to get a clean sheet, that means everyone in the team has to defend. We survive as a unit."

"I'm talking about not only playing football, but also fighting, this is important. I'm a player with this attitude. I don't like losing."

"I think we have to create more of this in the team, to fight harder, to win the game."

"In some situations on the pitch we did well, but we have room to make it better," Flick said on Monday, December 2, 2024.

The German coach emphasized this mentality for the sake of the target of winning La Liga.

"It's a long way to go in La Liga. This is how I see it, to fight, (because) at the end of the season we want to win titles, of course, we are Barcelona."

"So, I want to see everyone struggling, not only the team, but also the staff," he said again at ESPN.

Flick also talked about the need to be more clinical in front of goal, to put more effort as a team, and to prevent opponents from getting the space provided.

Dia juga menyoroti empat pemain yang menurutnya telah bermain dengan baik meskipun Barcelona mengalami penurunan hasil yang mengkhawatirkan.

"I want to be there, hunger is there to defend our goal. When I see Pau (Cubarsi) at the age of 17, Inigo (Martinez), how they play, every game survives very well. That's important to us."

"Pedri in midfield is also extraordinary. Every game he runs a lot, invests a lot."

"The others played great, but I just wanted to talk about the three because they were really at the highest level. I would also say Raphinha," Flick said.

Meanwhile, apart from stressing on mental matters, there is good news regarding Barcelona. Their list of injured players is reduced.

Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres have returned and played as substitutes against Las Palmas.

Flick also confirmed Dani Olmo, who did not appear against Las Palmas, is available to play as a starter against Mallorca.

Midfielder Marc Casado, promoted from team B in the summer, will also return for a trip to Mallorca after a one-match suspension due to his red card in a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo.

"He (Casado) has grown a lot from the start of the season to now. He also performed for the first time in a national match (with the Spanish national team)."

"He can really read the game from the opponent. He knows exactly where to be."

"He's good at reading the game. With the ball, he also knows what to do and is in the right position. He did really great," said Flick.

Barcelona's match against Mallorca started an important week in the title race. They will then travel to Betis on weekends.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid, who are in second place, will also have a consecutive away match against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday (December 5, 2024) and Girona on December 8, 2024.

Barcelona still lead the standings with 34 points, only one point ahead of Los Blanco who have more games.