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HANSI FLICK'S WARNING: GET READY FOR A "DIFFERENT BARçA" NOW

Hansi Flick vows a "different Barcelona" will appear after a chastening 3-0 defeat to Chelsea. The coach demands more aggression.

Hansi Flick's Warning: Get Ready for a "Different Barça" Now
Flick Promises "Different" Barcelona Return to Rivals

After Barcelona's tough 3-0 loss to Chelsea in the Champions League, coach Hansi Flick says fans can expect a different Barcelona side soon. The game at Stamford Bridge saw Jules Koundé score an own goal, giving Chelsea an early lead. Estêvão and Liam Delap then scored in the second half, after Barça's Ronald Araújo was sent off.

This loss puts the Spanish champs in 15th place, with only seven points from five games. They're now in danger of not making the top eight, which would get them straight into the round of 16.

You’ll see a different Barcelona in our next games, I promise, Flick said at the press conference. I said it before the game, too. I see how we're training—the quality and how hard we're working. It's way better than six weeks ago.

Players are coming back, which makes our training better. I feel good about that, and I’m staying positive.

Raphinha played again in the second half, which is great. Marcus [Rashford] is getting back to his best after being ill, and Pedri is coming back too. We need to keep working hard and stay positive.

Ferran Torres had a great chance to score early on, but Chelsea then took over.

Koundé’s own goal came after good play from Marc Cucurella and Pedro Neto. Then Araújo was sent off for a second yellow card after a late tackle on Cucurella.

Estêvão scored a great goal to make it 2-0 in the 55th minute, and Delap added another, leaving Flick frustrated with his team's lack of fight.

"We need to be more aggressive, especially when it's one-on-one," Flick said. Chelsea is always aggressive; they use their bodies and are dynamic. That’s what I want from my team.

We sometimes think we can control things with the ball, but in the Champions League, especially against a Premier League team like Chelsea, it doesn't work that way. We need to fight harder and be more aggressive.

We started well and had a big chance to score, but the red card changed everything.

It's tough to come back against a team like Chelsea with only 10 players. We have to accept the loss, but I’m feeling good about our next games.

Barça defender Eric García called it a really bad night.

We had some chances, but then we conceded from a set play, he said. In the second half, we tried to stay in the game and hit them on the counter, but the second goal finished us.

Chelsea played through our pressure, and we didn't adjust well. We tried to play out from the back, but it was impossible. They kept finding the free man, and we were just chasing the ball.

We have to be more competitive in these games. If you’re not strong in the duels and on the second balls, it's almost impossible to win.

Barça will finish the Champions League group stage with games against Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, and Copenhagen. But first, they’re back to LaLiga, with home games against Alavés and Atlético Madrid.

OFFICIAL DECISION: BARCELONA INFORM MARCUS RASHFORD THEY WANT HIM TO STAY AT CAMP NOU

Barcelona plan to keep Marcus Rashford permanently despite financial hurdles. See the latest on his £26m clause and United future.

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Barcelona really do want to keep Marcus Rashford, but they’re not so sure about paying the full £26 million buyout clause in his loan deal from Manchester United.

It’s only been a little over a year since Rashford last played for United. After that, Ruben Amorim pushed him out of the first team. Rashford bounced back with a solid loan spell at Aston Villa, then landed at Barcelona last summer on a season-long deal. The club got an option to make it permanent.

So far, this move feels like a win for everyone. Rashford has scored seven goals and set up 11 more in 26 games, and Barcelona is sitting four points clear at the top of La Liga. He looks like a new man—sharper, more driven—and now he’s a big piece for Thomas Tuchel’s England squad heading into the World Cup.

There’s still been some debate about whether Barcelona will lock him down for good, since he hasn’t totally nailed down a starting spot. Just this week, he started on the bench for their Super Cup semi-final win over Athletic Club.

Now, with El Clásico against Real Madrid in the Super Cup final coming up on Sunday, a lot of eyes are on Rashford to see how much he’ll feature.

Meanwhile, Ruben Amorim got sacked last Monday, which could open the door for guys like Rashford and Jadon Sancho to return to United. But according to The Athletic, United doesn’t plan to bring them back. Barcelona, on the other hand, has decided they want Rashford to stick around at Camp Nou after this season.

Still, Fabrizio Romano reports that Barcelona isn’t exactly rushing to trigger that buyout clause, and any final call probably won’t come until closer to the summer. Their finances play a big part in this—plus, Rashford’s £350,000-a-week salary, which Barcelona is currently covering in full.

The £26 million fee already looks like a bargain for a player of Rashford’s ability, and with the way he’s been playing, United aren’t likely to settle for less.

Either way, Rashford seems happy in Spain. He’s made it clear he wants to stay, and there are even rumours he’s hoping to link up again with ex-United teammate Kobbie Mainoo.

OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION: LA LIGA CLEARS BARCELONA TO SIGN A REPLACEMENT FOR INJURED ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN

Barcelona finalises Joao Cancelo’s return as La Liga approves injury cover. See how Deco used Andreas Christensen’s salary for the signing.

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What’s next for Andreas Christensen?

Mundo Deportivo reports that La Liga’s Medical Commission has officially recognised Andreas Christensen’s long-term injury. That means the Danish defender will miss about five months.

With that confirmation, Barcelona can now use 80% of Christensen’s salary margin under Financial Fair Play to bring in a replacement.

While the club hasn’t made it official yet, Joao Cancelo is set to fill that gap. He’s currently at Al-Hilal, but all signs point to him heading back to Barcelona.

Christensen tore his left ACL during a training session at the end of 2025. As soon as they got the bad news and realised he’d be out for months, Barça started looking for someone who could step in.

Finding a new centre-back during the January window is tough—Deco said as much. So, they turned to Cancelo, the Portuguese full-back, as the best option available.

Cancelo wants to come back. He played for Barcelona in the 2023/24 season and is keen to return. Everything’s lined up for his move, and the club expects to wrap up the signing next week, once the team gets back from Saudi Arabia.

Now that La Liga has cleared Christensen’s injury status, there shouldn’t be any problem registering Cancelo after the transfer goes through.

He’s coming in on a simple loan—no buy option for now. Even so, Cancelo hopes to stick around beyond this season.

Deco explained why they went for Cancelo over another centre-back: “We’re getting Ronald back, and the coach already said that gives us another centre-back. Cancelo means Eric doesn’t have to play as a fullback so much, which isn’t really his spot. Plus, Kounde can move inside if we need. It gives us options we just didn’t have before.”

As for Christensen, it’s unlikely he’ll play again this season. Still, Barcelona has decided to give him a one-year extension, since his contract ends this summer.

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