DORTMUND, Germany — Barcelona coach Hansi Flick mentioned he needed to remind his disenchanted gamers that they had reached the Champions League semifinal after Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund.
Serhou Guirassy‘s hat trick snapped Barça’s 24-match unbeaten streak because the begin of 2025 at a loud Sign Iduna Park, however the Catalans received the tie 5-3 on mixture after a 4-0 first leg victory final week.
It is the primary time Barça have reached the semifinals since 2019, with both Bayern Munich or Inter Milan up subsequent.
“I believe everybody right here acknowledges and appreciates the staff’s performances this season,” Flick mentioned in a information convention when requested if the outcome had been accompanied by extreme negativity. “At this time was not our greatest recreation. I perceive the questions in that respect, however I believe we nonetheless have trigger to be blissful.
“There was not an amazing environment within the dressing room, both. It was solely once I advised them, ‘Lads, we’re within the semifinal,’ that it lifted a bit. However after all, that is what the gamers anticipate of themselves. They wish to win each recreation. At this time, they’re a bit disenchanted, however I believe the happiness of going by means of will prevail.”
Flick rested Pedri and Iñigo Martínez in Dortmund, whereas Alejandro Balde was lacking with an harm, and the house aspect, buoyed by an unimaginable environment, began strongly.
Guirassy opened the scoring from the penalty spot early on and headed in a second after the break to gasoline perception of an unlikely comeback.
Ramy Bensebaini‘s personal purpose appeared to finish the tie, just for Guirassy to strike once more to arrange an interesting finale.
Barça held on, although, and Flick felt they have been worthy winners over the 2 legs.
“We performed two video games,” he mentioned. “We received the primary 4-0, and right here now we have misplaced 3-1. I believe we deserved to succeed in the semifinal. Dortmund made life troublesome for us. The environment was extraordinary, however we’re within the final 4.
“It will likely be essential to research this recreation, however we have accrued a whole lot of matches, and it could possibly be regular [to drop the performance level]. However I’m actually happy with the staff and the performances this season. We’re nonetheless in three competitions. We’re within the Champions League semifinal. This can be a enormous success, and we may be blissful for that.”
Barça now have back-to-back LaLiga video games at dwelling to Celta Vigo and Mallorca as they give the impression of being to keep up their four-point lead on the prime of the standings.
They then will face Real Madrid within the Copa del Rey last on April 26, with defender Jules Koundé eager to shortly eradicate the errors that blighted them in Dortmund.
“I’m actually blissful to be within the semifinal however disenchanted with how we performed,” Koundé advised reporters. “We lacked all the things we did nicely within the first leg: urgent, closing passing lanes. We have been lower than it as we speak. We made errors, switched off. Flick advised us we had to enhance at halftime. Perhaps we did a bit within the second half.
“We’ve to maintain going and never cease doing what now we have achieved all through the season. We’ve to be proud of the work the staff has put in to date.”
