'That's what I need from the players' - Hansi Flick defends his tactics at Barcelona and tells team how to improve

""When we lose and when we concede three goals, it's easy to say it wasn't a good game or that it wasn't the Barça we'd like to see. Ultimately, some people don't understand what we need to play with that high defensive line. It's our own style; it's not just about the defenders. The forwards and midfielders also initiate the press. That's what I need from the players.""

""The blame seems to fall on the defense, but that's not fair. If we don't all press effectively, we'll have problems, I want to make that clear. I said I was optimistic because we did some things well, but we need to improve in attack when we start the press. I want to see what I see in training, and I like what I see. The players are very focused and have a lot of quality. Pedri, Raphinha, and Marcus will contribute even more.""

Conceding three goals often triggers criticism of the defense, but playing a high defensive line requires coordinated pressing from forwards, midfielders, and defenders. Collective pressing initiates the defensive structure and reduces vulnerabilities that appear when players fail to press effectively. Improvements in attacking transitions when initiating the press are needed to convert defensive organization into offensive chances. Training sessions have shown increased dynamism, intensity, and confidence both with and without the ball. Players demonstrate focus and quality, and contributions from Pedri, Raphinha, and Marcus are expected to grow. Clear communication to players about observed strengths and areas for improvement is emphasized.

Read at Barca Blaugranes