Barcelona manager, Hansi Flick, has admitted that Paris Saint-Germain were the better team after his side suffered a 4-2 defeat in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, blaming a lack of freshness in the closing stages and inadequate preparation for the encounter.
Speaking after the match, Flick acknowledged PSG’s superiority and admitted that Barcelona struggled to maintain their intensity towards the end of the game.
“PSG showed they are better than us,” Flick said, recognising the quality of the defending European champions.
The German manager also pointed to Barcelona’s lack of freshness in the final 10 minutes but insisted that it should not be used as an excuse for the defeat.
“Also, in the final 10 minutes we weren’t fresh, although that’s not an excuse. We didn’t have the best preparation for this game. We have to analyse it and do things better,” he added.
Flick’s comments highlighted the difficulty of sustaining Barcelona’s aggressive style against opponents capable of exploiting spaces quickly and maintaining pressure throughout a match.
Barcelona twice fought back through Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal, but goals from Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz in the closing stages secured PSG’s victory.
Although fatigue may have contributed to Barcelona’s struggles, the result also raised questions about their defensive organisation, ball retention and ability to manage pressure against elite European opposition.
Barcelona’s inability to maintain their intensity for the full 90 minutes proved costly as PSG capitalised in the decisive stages to secure the win.
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Flick now faces the task of turning his admission into practical improvements ahead of Barcelona’s next major test against Real Madrid.
