FC Barcelona lost their last Preseason fixture against Monaco, making it two consecutive losses in a row. Even though Barca had ended on the losing side against AC Milan, the match's fixture didn't raise many questions, given the Blaugrana club looked in control all the time; however, given their recent performance against Monaco, it seems they need to make major changes.
Barca had started well, but being unable to convert a few early chances, they lost track in the Joan Gamper fixture. The halftime scoreline read 0-0, and it seemed that the Catalan team would back themselves and deliver a mesmerizing performance just before the first matchday. However, all such hopes vanished as they looked too casual overall, losing it at an embarrassing score line of 0-3.
Hansi Flick reflects upon the embarrassing defeat in Joan Gamper's Final
Though the Catalan players pulled off one of the most disastrous results from the Joan Gamper Finals, Barca boss Hansi Flick optimistically viewed it as an opportunity to rectify their mistakes before the real La Liga action. Flick said,
""Today is a day where you realize what is going well and what is not. We will analyze it, and we will definitely play a different game in Valencia. We are taking care of the new players; we are still in Preseason.""Hansi Flick
Recounting what he felt about Barca's overall performance against Monaco, Flick remarked,
""In the first few minutes, we were good; we had our chances, but we didn't take advantage of them. We weren't good in terms of speed or passing."Hansi Flick
Had the Blaugrana club taken a crucial lead in the early minutes, it would have proved enough for the French club. However, a poor display from Barca's front three restricted Barca's chances of marking their first silverware of the season. The rest of the job was done by Monaco forwards, who capitalized on the chances Barca's sloppy defense presented to them.
The harsh truth being spoken, only a few players looked well enough in the Barcelona squad, with the rest being below mediocre. In particular, responsibilities should have been taken by Captain Ter Stegen, Backline leader Jules Kounde, and Barca's priority forward, Lewandowski. But in reality, the trio's poor display magnified the embarrassment levels for the Blaugrana club.
Overall, Barca had a night to forget in the Joan Gamper Finals, and the team would look forward to the Valencia fixture with a fresh mindset. Barca would hope that they manage to secure their first win in the game against Valencia, boosting their confidence for future endeavors.