Henry Goes After Flick: Barcelona’s PSG setback sparks a sharp public critique
2 octobre 2025
Henry critiques Flick’s high line after Paris setback
Former France star Thierry Henry, a Barcelona and Arsenal legend, directed his critique at German coach Hansi Flick following Barcelona’s 2-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on a dramatic Wednesday night.
Henry argued that Flick’s insistence on playing a high defensive line left Barcelona exposed, particularly against elite opponents. While he has long praised Barcelona’s style and respected Flick’s tactical approach, Henry insisted that in big matches teams must adapt or risk being outflanked by a single counterattack.
Since arriving at Barcelona in the summer of 2024, Flick has overseen 53 matches with 34 wins, 12 draws, and 7 losses; Barcelona have netted 112 goals and conceded 55 in that span.
By comparison, Flick’s tenure at Bayern Munich included a sextuple in the 2019-2020 season, with 70 wins in 86 games and an outstanding 81% win rate. The team averaged 2.9 goals per game during that era, one of the highest marks in the club’s history.
With Germany, Flick managed 25 matches, securing 12 wins, 7 draws, and 6 losses; the period culminated in a disappointing 2022 World Cup showing that failed to advance from the group stage, leading to his dismissal in 2023.
In the Barcelona-PSG clash, Barca players projected confidence, yet Henry’s critique gained traction as the match unfolded with a late Paris winner and a reminder that swagger alone does not win European nights.
Meanwhile, PSG midfield maestro Vitinha reminded observers that prematch chatter is common but ultimately what matters is performance on the night and securing results. He stressed the importance of a strong collective showing to translate talent into outcomes.
Pedri, Barcelona’s midfield talisman, acknowledged PSG’s stature while signaling belief in his own side’s capacity to compete with Europe’s elite. The Spain international added that Barcelona must convert opportunities and maintain focus across the full 90 minutes.
Lamine Yamal had hinted at a comeback, posting a short message on the eve of the game about returning to duty and resilience, fueling expectations among Blaugrana supporters that the young winger could drive a late-season surge.
Barcelona’s injury woes were compounded by the absence of key attackers on the PSG side, including the team’s star forward and other winger, limiting certain options but not the ambition to challenge for European glory. Paris, by contrast, leaned on depth and the match’s momentum to secure the win, especially in the second half.
After the defeat, Barcelona sat on three points from their opener against Newcastle United and faced a demanding schedule in October, hosting Olympiakos before traveling to Club Brugge, Chelsea in London, and Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, before concluding the group phase with meetings against Slavia Prague and Copenhagen. The memory of last season’s exit in the semi-finals to Inter Milan—after a 3-3 draw in Barcelona and a 4-3 victory for Inter in Italy—hung over the club as it chases a deeper European run.
Henry’s comments added another layer to a season already defined by tactical debates and high-stakes matches, underscoring the pressure on Flick to balance Barcelona’s attacking aspirations with the realities of European football.
Punchline time: If football gave out medals for perfect defensive lines, Flick would need a bigger shelf. Punchline two: In football, timing is everything—unfortunately for Flick, the defense showed up a couple of seconds late to the party and Barcelona paid the price.
