Barcelona manager Hansi Flick took full responsibility for his team’s unexpected 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad on Sunday, a defeat that brought their impressive seven-match winning streak across all competitions to a halt.
Flick commended the performance of their rivals, emphasizing that Barcelona must now look ahead. Flick’s team maintains its position at the summit of the La Liga standings with 33 points, holding a six-point lead over Real Madrid, who have a game in hand and sit in second place.
“Today was not our day,” Flick stated during a press conference.
Acceptance of the outcome seems necessary, as the opposing team demonstrated a clear and decisive performance. There are no justifications to be found. The team needed to generate more scoring opportunities.
“We began the match positively with the ball, which was encouraging, but soon we encountered difficulties, leading to their goal.” “We acknowledge that we made poor choices, which is a reality we must accept.”
Barcelona had maintained a remarkable streak, scoring in every match leading up to Sunday. However, their performance at San Sebastian concluded with a disappointing statistic: no shots on target throughout the game.
Real Sociedad generated multiple opportunities and might have secured a more significant victory, capitalizing on a string of errors from a shaky Barcelona defence. This is an aspect that Flick believes warrants thorough examination.
The onus for the defeat rests squarely on our shoulders. “We could and should have performed significantly better,” Flick stated.
“Our inability to maintain possession of the ball has not met our expectations, leading to significant challenges.” The games played thus far have been exceptional, and there is a deep appreciation for the team’s efforts this season.
