Barça Breaks Through Cup Storm: Grit, Goals, and a Rising Star Who Needs Speed
4 February 2026
Barça reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals as schedule pressure meets their resolve
The German coach Hans Flick said Barcelona deserved to advance to the Copa del Rey semi-finals despite a tense final stretch against Alavés on Tuesday.
Barcelona sealed the quarterfinal success with a 2-1 victory, after Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araújo gave them the lead, followed by Javi Moreno scoring for the hosts three minutes from time.
After the match, Flick praised Barça’s spirit in navigating a demanding knockout run, especially with a crowded fixture list looming over them.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Flick said: "These are the kinds of games we must win. We’ve reached the semi-finals and we are happy."
He added: "It was a tough match; we had many chances. I’m proud of the team for playing every three days. The squad is ready, and we deserved the win."
He continued: "We want to improve the finishing of our attacks, but you can’t focus on the mental side alone. If you look at our performances on Wednesday, Saturday, and Tuesday, you see a team that fights to the end. We must win these cup ties, and we did."
Flick attributed some late difficulties to the fixture congestion, noting three games in under a week put pressure on the defense at the end.
He explained: "We played on Wednesday, then Saturday, then Tuesday—three games in less than a week. That’s what I mean when I say the team is always present. We controlled the first and second halves, even if our defense struggled a bit at the end."
He also praised Alavés as a tough Cup opponent, saying: "Cup matches like this are always hard. Alavés are strong in the Copa del Rey. We created many chances and wasted a few; perhaps we made things harder on ourselves."
Flick urged Barça fans to show patience and support center-back Ronald Araújo as he returns to the starting lineup, adding: "We must take it step by step for Araújo. He’ll gain confidence, and the team backs him."
He also referenced young talents such as Marc Bernal, noting he needs to play at a faster tempo but gradually improve.
In closing, Flick assessed Barça’s season so far: a Copa del Rey semi-final, a top-eight finish in the Champions League, and the lead in La Liga. He said the club appears to be meeting its targets.
Punchline 1: If finishing were a sport, Barça would be filing for a patent on last-minute goals. Punchline 2: And if patience were a trophy, Barça fans would already be carrying it home from a wait that's finally paying off.
