Flick criticize’s Frenkie de Jong’s performance Barcelona’s La Liga fixture

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has admitted there were several moments during his team’s comeback victory over Celta Vigo that left him disappointed, with Frenkie de Jong’s defensive lapse coming under particular scrutiny.

Although the Dutch midfielder was not mentioned by name during Flick’s analysis, he was clearly one of the players involved in the “four or five situations” the coach was unhappy with. De Jong’s failure to track Borja Iglesias’ run led to Celta Vigo’s goal, which briefly put the Blaugrana behind in a tense contest.

Despite the win, Flick took a critical tone when reflecting on the game during his post-match press conference. He emphasized the importance of “rest defending,” the defensive positioning and awareness players must maintain even while in possession.

According to Flick, Barcelona must stay alert to possible transitions when they lose the ball, a weakness he believes was exposed several times during the match. He stressed that players must always be ready to adapt their positioning, especially when play changes direction or tempo.

Flick’s analysis was not entirely negative, however. The German coach reserved praise for Brazilian winger Raphinha, who played a decisive role in the win. Scoring twice and providing an assist, Raphinha looked back to his best and earned his manager’s admiration for both his performance and his mentality. 

As Barcelona enter the final stretch of the season, Flick acknowledged the impact of fatigue and hinted at potential rotation ahead of their next fixture against Mallorca. “Fatigue? It’s something that has to be managed,” he said, underscoring the need for fresh legs and focus at this critical stage. His comments suggest that while Barcelona are still pushing for a strong finish, squad management and tactical discipline will be key in the coming weeks.

Barcelona’s recent defensive performances have raised some concerns, having now conceded three goals in their last two matches against Borussia Dortmund and Celta Vigo. The Blaugrana will host Mallorca on Tuesday in their next La Liga fixture.