Barcelona manager Hansi Flick expressed a mix of pride and disappointment following their dramatic Copa del Rey semi-final loss to Atletico Madrid. Despite rallying to take a three-goal lead with 20 minutes remaining, the Catalans fell short as Atletico held a 4-3 aggregate advantage to reach the final.
Reflecting on the effort, Flick praised his squad’s determination, saying, “We’re disappointed, but also proud of what we saw. It was an incredible match; we created so many chances. But ultimately, it didn’t happen…”
Flick highlighted standout performances from defenders, particularly Cubarsi, acknowledging the player’s growth and consistency: “Cubarsi had one or two games where he was not at his best, but he’s a fantastic defender, one of the best centre-backs in the world. With the ball today, it was amazing.”
🚨 Raphinha: “I leave proud of the team, we wanted the final and we deserved it after today’s match, but respect to Atlético Madrid who have done very well. It’s not easy, we could have done better in the first leg, but if we play like we did today we’ll have a spectacular end to… pic.twitter.com/VvV2XKF9dt
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) March 3, 2026
The aftermath of the match saw most of Barcelona’s players collapse in exhaustion, compounded by injuries to Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde, which could impact upcoming fixtures. Flick stressed the importance of recovery, focusing on the challenges ahead in both La Liga and the Champions League: “Step by step. There’s a long road ahead. We have to focus on what’s next, which is Bilbao and Newcastle, two very strong teams. It’s about recovery. The quality is there. I’m proud of my players.”
Despite the disappointment, Flick emphasized the need for consistency, pointing to Barcelona’s defensive display as a benchmark: “We have to show this level in every match because we’re capable of it. But it’s hard work… recover, eat well, concentrate on training…”
Adding a positive note, the manager welcomed the return of the singing section after an 18-month hiatus due to a dispute over a UEFA fine. Flick called the atmosphere “spectacular” and noted its motivational impact on the team.
Barcelona now turn their attention to La Liga, traveling to San Mames to face Athletic Club at 21:00 CEST.
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