Barcelona are not having a good time right now. After suffering a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals, they lost 2-1 to local rivals Girona.
The defeat at Montilivi meant Barcelona had to relinquish their position at the top of the league table, with Real Madrid now becoming the new league leaders.
Coach Hansi Flick is clearly not happy with how things are going now and has taken some necessary steps to try and mitigate the problem.
Important meeting with squad and staff
According to SPORT, Flick held a lengthy meeting with his staff and the squad earlier in the day.
After two days off from training, Flick focused on fine-tuning details and engaging in extended discussions with the dressing room following two consecutive defeats.
Barcelona will be boosted by the return of Pedri this weekend. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
This roughly 60-hour disconnection was an unusual decision designed to let the squad breathe and return with recharged batteries before it was too late.
Upon returning to the training facilities this Thursday, the players were greeted with this very long talk.
Instead of heading straight to the grass, the team did not take to the pitch until around 12:10 PM. Flick utilised this time for a prolonged “group therapy” session lasting over an hour to mentally reset his men.
The manager emphasised returning to the core tactical points that previously brought them success, such as intense high pressure and maintaining order in the lines.
He also stressed the importance of avoiding losses in delicate areas and perfecting their overall tactical positioning.
This crucial reset aims to prepare the team for their upcoming clash next Sunday against Levante, where two of the key players have returned to normal training, as well star midfielder Pedri.