Following Barcelona’s 2–0 home defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final, Fabrizio Romano has shared a sarcastic post-match remark from Hansi Flick on his official X handle.
Flick jokingly “thanked Germany” for the VAR official after expressing frustration over a controversial late moment in the match. The Barcelona coach believed a handball by Marc Pubill inside the penalty area should have resulted in a penalty and possibly a second yellow card, which would have seen Atlético reduced to 10 men.
Romano shared:
Hansi Flick: The VAR was German… so thank you, Germany.
The incident proved even more significant as Barcelona were already down a player following the dismissal of Pau Cubarsi. Atlético capitalized on their advantage, with goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth securing a strong first-leg lead.
As earlier reported by Softfootball, prior to the match, Flick had emphasized the importance of trusting Barcelona’s style of play against a disciplined Atlético side. Despite the setback, he has maintained belief in his squad, insisting that the tie is far from decided.
In a follow-up message shared by Romano, Flick declared: “We do believe in ourselves. It’s NOT over.”
Hansi Flick on return leg: We do believe in ourselves. It’s NOT over.
His comments come amid positive developments off the pitch, with Barcelona reportedly set to extend his contract until 2028, a move backed by club president Joan Laporta.
With the second leg at the Metropolitano approaching, Barcelona face a difficult challenge but remain determined to mount a comeback against Diego Simeone’s resilient side.
