Barcelona are hunting for three points on Monday as they face local rivals Girona. For the Catalans, it’s a game they absolutely have to win.

Coach Hansi Flick clearly wasn’t happy with what he saw in Barça’s 4-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey. He’s looking for a real response this time. Before the Girona match, Flick spoke to the press about the team’s mood and what he expects.

He started by talking about Girona. “We’re expecting an organised side,” Flick said. “They’re well set up; they play bravely. We have to show more sharpness and energy than we did last time.”

Reporters asked about the mood in the Barça dressing room after that heavy defeat. Flick admitted it stung but said the team learned from it. “The most important thing today is that training went well. The energy was good, the guys were sharp, and you could see the confidence. We even found the net.”

He didn’t gloss over the loss. “Thursday’s match was a lesson for us. We lost, but now it’s about moving forward. We have to accept it and focus on Girona.”

Flick stressed the need for a strong comeback. “Staying focused is key. We have enough quality to beat anyone, but we need to actually show up on the pitch, unlike those first 45 minutes against Atleti.”

He even called the Atletico match a Champions League-level battle. “Atlético was ready for it. In the first half, we just weren’t competitive enough, especially in the duels. They were sharper, more dynamic.”

But Flick saw something to build on. “I liked what I saw at training today. Now we need to bring that onto the pitch tomorrow. The season’s still long. If we stick together and give 100%, anything’s possible.”

He added, “We have great quality. Sometimes you lose, but what matters is how you react.”

Questions came up about Barcelona’s complaint to the RFEF over poor refereeing, which has hit both the men’s and women’s teams. Flick shrugged it off. “My job is the team. That’s all I focus on, our mentality and our style of play. I can’t worry about the rest. Sure, things aren’t always great, but that’s not my concern.”

He was honest about the Atletico loss. “After the match, I spoke to the referee about the offside goal. We had a good conversation, but that’s between us. Refereeing wasn’t the reason we lost. We need to fix what’s in our hands.”

Flick stayed clear on his refereeing stance. “I can’t control everything. We’re all human; mistakes happen. The important thing is to keep improving players, coaches, referees, and everyone. This is football, and everyone should try to stay neutral. Mistakes will come, but we just keep working.”

On the squad, Flick confirmed Marcus Rashford will miss the Girona game. “He’s out for tomorrow. He’s improving, but we’re taking it step by step.”

He also talked about Raphinha, expected to play after returning to full training. “We miss him when he’s not there. You see in training, he lifts the team’s energy and pace. I’ve said it before: for me, he was the best player in the world last season.”

Finally, Flick updated on Pedri and Gavi. “Pedri should be ready. With Gavi, we have to be careful. What I’ve seen in training is impressive. He’s probably not available in February, but I think he’ll be fit for March.”

Barcelona’s Sporting Director, Deco, has come right out and said it: Aston Villa pulled out all the stops to keep Marcus Rashford after his loan spell last season. He sat down with Sport, a Spanish outlet, and didn’t hold back about what really happened during the summer transfer window.

Rashford joined Unai Emery’s squad for the back half of last year, and, honestly, he lit things up. He just clicked right away. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s ex-boss, Ruben Amorim, never saw Rashford fitting into his plans at Old Trafford.

So, what did Villa do? They went all in. They really tried to make the deal permanent. But it didn’t matter. Rashford had already set his sights on Barcelona. Once he decided, Villa’s hopes were pretty much dead. Barcelona swooped in, worked out a season-long loan with an option to buy, and that was that.

Deco didn’t sugarcoat it. “It wasn’t easy to get him here. He’s a top player, used to big expectations at Manchester United,” he said. “He did great at Aston Villa. They wanted to keep him, I know, because I’ve talked to people there. But he only wanted Barca. That’s a big plus for us.”

He pointed out that Rashford even agreed to lower his salary just to make the move happen. “That tells you everything about his motivation,” Deco added. “We’re thrilled. He brings so much to our team.”

So how did Villa take it? Honestly, losing a player like Rashford stings badly. Unai Emery had a game-changer on his hands, and you could see it. Four goals and six assists in just 17 games. He picked up the system fast and gave Villa the pace and width they needed, and the team looked sharper for it. But now, with Rashford gone, Villa suddenly have a huge gap up front. For a club trying to prove they belong with England’s best, missing out on a player like this one who already fits right in feels like a real setback. And sure, the decision was Rashford’s, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

There’s a twist, too: Rashford looks like a different player in Spain. The contrast between his final days at Manchester United and his impact at Barcelona is pretty striking. He’s already chalked up 10 goals and 13 assists in 34 matches. It’s clear he’s thriving again.

Deco made a point of saying Rashford wanted out of Manchester so badly that he took a pay cut. Villa spotted his potential and helped him get his confidence back, only for Barcelona to snatch him away. If Barca end up making the move permanent, Villa fans are always going to wonder what could have been. In the end, it all came down to Rashford’s dream of wearing that famous Barcelona shirt.