Hansi Flick tried to calm nerves around FC Barcelona after their rough 3–0 Champions League defeat to Chelsea yesterday, using his post-match press conference to reassure fans that the team is heading in a better direction than the result suggests.
He emphasised that training intensity, player sharpness, and overall team cohesion have improved a lot in recent weeks, and he sounded genuinely convinced that a “different Barcelona” is beginning to take shape. This was made known in a video released by FC Barcelona via their official X account.
Flick said:
Yes, we will see a different Barcelona. This is what I can promise, and this was also before the game yesterday in our press conference, I saw how they trained and their quality as well as intensity; it’s totally different than maybe six weeks ago.
The players are coming back with increased qualities from training, so that’s what I can see, and I have a really good feeling about that, looking positive.
Watch the video below:
Softfootball understands that the loss itself came with some pretty frustrating context. Barça actually started the game decently and created an early chance through Ferran Torres, but everything changed when Ronald Araújo picked up a second yellow card just before halftime.
Going down to ten men against a physically aggressive and fast Chelsea side made the rest of the match feel like an uphill climb they were never quite ready for. Chelsea capitalised quickly, first through an own goal and then with big moments from young star Estêvão and Liam Delap, who punished Barcelona’s stretched back line.\
Chelsea were just perfect yesterday, as they executed their game plan very effectively; even Liam Delap confirmed that they followed the manager’s game plan to the letter in an earlier report.
What made Flick’s comments stand out is that his optimism didn’t match the mood among fans. Many supporters online were openly frustrated with lineup decisions, especially starting Araújo and Ferran Torres, and questioned whether the team has the mentality for tough away games.
The defeat also added to Barcelona’s uneven Champions League campaign so far: two wins, one draw, and now two losses in the league-phase format. It’s not disastrous, but it’s definitely shaky for a club that expects far more.
Even with all that, Flick insists the internal improvements he’s seeing, highlighting better training sessions, players returning with stronger form, and more intensity, are signs that Barcelona’s trajectory is turning upward.
He clearly wants people to believe that this setback is temporary and that the team will look sharper and more confident in the matches ahead.
