Flick doubles down on Barça’s attacking DNA after Brugge stalemate

Flick defends Barça philosophy after Brugge draw

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick admitted once again that his side showed defensive fragility in the 3-3 draw with Club Brugge on Wednesday in the Champions League group stage, while insisting he will not abandon his attacking philosophy.

After the match, Flick said the goals came from costly ball losses in dangerous areas, indicating that the team no longer works in the same collective rhythm as before. It was not an easy game; we created chances, but Brugge played smart and were aggressive as expected.

He rejected the idea of changing the defensive approach, insisting: We are Barça and we want to play our way. People may ask for changes, but I am not that kind of coach. We will continue with our philosophy. We will not retreat and defend deep to win 1-0 on the counter. We will improve, but in our style.

Flick pointed out the midfield as the main issue, saying: the pressure in midfield was not enough and we lost many balls, making life hard for the back line against their quick attacks. Of course the defense must improve, but not with less intensity if we want to compete in the Champions League.

He also noted a dip in form compared to last season, adding that after the break Rafinha, Pedri, and Olmo could return and Lewandowski might raise his level.

He finished by praising young Lamine Yamal: happy with his return, but we must monitor his status closely. If he keeps up the good work, the discomfort will gradually fade. It is not easy, but he is on the right path.

Barcelona survived the scare and earned a hard-fought 3-3 draw at Club Brugge, a result that left Barça with 7 points in 11th place in the group and Brugge on 4. Ferran Torres opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 8th minute, Lamine Yamal struck in the 61st, and a Brugge own goal by Christos Tzolis in the 77th levelled the match after Carlos Forbes had given Brugge a 2-1 lead with goals in the 6th and 17th minutes, and Forbes again in the 63rd.

Barça’s late lifeline came from an own goal by a Brugge defender, ensuring the Spaniards avoided defeat and continued their campaign with seven points. The game took place at Jan Breydel Stadium in Brugge.

Numbers tell a story of warning signs for Barcelona, as Opta notes a nine-game streak without a clean sheet across competitions and a rapid concession in the opening minutes that set the tone for a troublesome night. Still, Flick remains optimistic about turning the page after the international break, hoping a return to more familiar faces will help tighten things at the back and sharpen the attack.

Punchline 1: If defending were a sniper rifle, Barça’s backline would need a longer lens and a shorter patience timeout. Punchline 2: Flick says we play our way; apparently the back line heard that and packed its bags for a holiday in the neutral zone.