Barcelona won 5 consecutive matches in La Liga in the early stages of the 2024-2025 season. They scored 17 goals and were also quickly praised by the media.
It is unfortunate to see the changes in the Catalan team since Hansi Flick replaced Xavi Hernandez on the coaching chair. Cule and everyone saw changes in both playing style and intensity from players who also changed their physique and fitness.
The German coach has been in Catalan for more than 100 days, and has been talking about the possibility of reclaiming the La Liga title from Real Madrid, as well as fighting the Champions League drought that has lasted since 2015.
However, Flick and his students started in the most prestigious club arena in the old continent in an unexpected way. 1 red card and a 1-2 defeat at AS Monaco, perhaps, people will ask, was it just an accident?
Flick has chosen to deal with the situation with a positive outlook. In the dressing room, Flick emphasized the importance of learning from this experience and maintaining unity.
" Failure is part of the process. The important thing is how we react," the German coach reminded that every failure can be an opportunity to mature.
However, there is another perspective to point out that the defeat could have a stronger impact on Barca than Flick thought. It was a defeat in a prestigious arena and it could discourage the players. Remember, in recent seasons, Barcelona have been eliminated early in the Champions League.
This year, looking at a longer journey that Barca still have to play against Dortmund, Benfica, Bayern Munich - Flick's former team, Atalanta - the reigning Europa League champions, any psychological shake-up can be very dangerous.
More importantly, when they are on the rise and suffer such a painful fall, they may need time to calm down. But the schedule is not waiting for anyone, tonight will be a trip to Villarreal in round 6 of La Liga.
Villarreal is one of four teams yet to lose after five rounds (W3 D2) and one of three teams behind Barca with 11 points.
Barcelona still have more wins in their history, but the "Golden Submarine" have never been an easy opponent for them. Last season, the two matches between them brought a total of 15 goals, each team won 1 - Barca won 4-3 in Castellon, Villarreal won 5-3 in Catalunya.
Confidence is good, but being overconfident leads to consequences. Marc-Andre ter Stegen's mistake in the match against Monaco leading to Eric Garcia's red card was proof. The German goalkeeper will learn a lesson from that mistake, but who knows where the mistake will appear in the near future! ?
The way AS Monaco performed could be a suggestion for other teams when playing Barcelona, because last summer, the Monaco National Team also won 3-0 in the Joan Gamper Cup match...
And another warning is that players are injured due to Flick's very strict requirements for training, competition intensity...
