HANSI FLICK’S FURY: HOW BARCELONA PLANS TO ERASE THE 4-0 ATLETICO DISASTER AGAINST GIRONA
¡Barcelona face Girona! Read Hansi Flick’s verdict on the 4-0 Atleti loss, Marcus Rashford’s injury, and Gavi’s return date today.
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 PUTS MARCUS RASHFORD’S £26M PERMANENT TRANSFER "ON ICE" EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Man Utd face a wage crisis as Marcus Rashford’s move to Barcelona stalls over financial constraints and salary caps.
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Marcus Rashford’s permanent move from Manchester United to Barcelona seems to have hit the brakes as the Catalan club reassess their plans for next season. They initially viewed Rashford’s experience as a key addition to support the young players they’re nurturing, but retaining Robert Lewandowski in that veteran role is now looking more likely.
Lewandowski was expected to leave, yet Barcelona have opened the door for him to stay, offering a new contract, though on less favourable terms. The financial impact of signing Rashford might complicate Barca’s other transfer ambitions, as the board weighs their options carefully.
Despite Hansi Flick’s wish to keep Rashford at Camp Nou, Barcelona appear to be holding off on the deal, partly due to challenges around his wage demands, according to reports in Sport. Rashford is reportedly willing to take a significant pay cut, nearly halving his salary through a longer-term contract, but even so, it could stretch the club’s wage budget.
A £26 million fee has reportedly been agreed for Rashford’s transfer, yet the total cost of his package has raised some eyebrows. There’s concern that making Rashford’s stay permanent might limit Barca’s ability to sign a defender and forward unless they offload other players.
Barcelona are reportedly exploring alternatives with profiles similar to Rashford, including Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup, Osasuna’s Victor Munoz, and Mallorca's Jan Virgili. With Lewandowski likely to stick around, these options might gain more traction.
Their pursuit of defender Alessandro Bastoni and a ‘world-class’ centre-forward could also shape the outcome, but things remain uncertain. How Rashford finishes this season might still influence what comes next.
So far, Rashford has scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona. He’s made it clear he’d prefer to stay.
“Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca,” he told Sport earlier. “It’s the end goal, but it’s not the reason why I’m training hard and giving it my best. The purpose is to win. Barca is a huge, fantastic club, built to win titles.”
Lewandowski, who turns 38 this summer, has been offered a contract with half his current fixed salary. As a Bundesliga legend, he still wants clarity regarding his role, and several clubs have shown interest in signing him on a free transfer.
Meanwhile, Rashford remains under contract at Manchester United until 2028 and faces an awkward return if Barcelona doesn't finalise the deal. His £325,000-a-week wages don’t fit well within United’s current structure, which favours incentive-driven contracts with lower basic pay. That could create some tension behind the scenes.
WHY BARCELONA FAVORS KEEPING VETERAN ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI OVER FERRAN TORRES
Barcelona is ready to sell Ferran Torres to fund a move for Julian Alvarez while keeping Robert Lewandowski on a pay cut.
Barcelona is planning to reshape its attack this summer, focusing more on keeping veteran striker Robert Lewandowski than on Ferran Torres. The club is open to offers for the 26-year-old Spanish forward to raise funds that would support their efforts to bring in two new forwards and refresh the frontline.
Torres could be moved to generate transfer funds. ESPN reports that Barcelona is willing to consider offers for him as they try to finance their summer signings. Torres is under contract until 2027, making this transfer window a critical opportunity to secure a substantial fee. Although he has shown moments of promise, his performances have lacked consistency, and he hasn’t scored since late January. Over this season, he has netted 16 goals in 40 appearances. Head coach Hansi Flick remains confident in his dedication, but selling him would provide the financial flexibility needed to pursue higher-profile players.
On the other hand, Lewandowski seems more inclined to stay at Camp Nou. At 37, he’s reportedly prepared to take a pay cut to remain, prioritising his family’s stability despite interest from MLS’s Chicago Fire and various Saudi Pro League teams. When asked about his future by The Athletic, he admitted uncertainty, saying he hasn’t yet felt ready to decide and might take a few more months to settle on the best path.
Meanwhile, sporting director Deco is targeting ambitious signings to upgrade the squad. A deal for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez is reportedly underway, though it won’t come cheap. Barcelona is also trying to extend the loan of Marcus Rashford beyond the current spell. They have the option to buy the England international from Manchester United for €30 million, but are aiming to negotiate either a lower fee or a new loan arrangement. Ideally, Alvarez would slot in as the starting striker next season, which would reduce playing time for Torres.
Financially, Barcelona has been busy securing its young core, offering new contracts to talents like Gavi, Pedri, and Pau Cubarsi, with recent extensions for Eric Garcia and Fermin Lopez as well. However, they have not opened talks with Torres, indicating he may not be part of their long-term plans.
Lewandowski, for his part, is taking a patient approach. He noted that at his age and with his experience, there’s no rush to make a decision. “Maybe in three months is probably when I have to decide,” he said. “But still, I don’t have any stress.”
