Hansi Flick: Barcelona Must Improve Defence to Compete With PSG

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has admitted his side must improve defensively after conceding a late goal in their 2-1 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

PSG sealed the win at the Olympic Stadium with a 90th-minute strike from Gonçalo Ramos, who converted Achraf Hakimi’s cross after the French champions exploited Barcelona’s high defensive line.

Reflecting on the loss, Flick said his team still had work to do to reach PSG’s level.

“With (the score at) 1-1 you have to defend better, have a better structure in the defence,” Flick told reporters. “We will learn this and we have to make it better next time against this quality of team.”

The Catalans’ defensive weaknesses have been costly in Europe before, having conceded seven goals across two legs in last season’s Champions League semi-final exit to Inter Milan.

Flick acknowledged PSG deserved the win, saying his players were below their best on the night.

“There is no point in saying we are on the same level (but) I believe in my team — today wasn’t our best day,” he said. “We train to get better and better and this game today (will) help us a lot, also for the future. The whole team has to defend, the whole team has to attack.”

He praised PSG’s approach under Luis Enrique, highlighting their speed, quality, and youthful energy.

“The philosophy that they (PSG) have is fantastic. They have young players, they had high quality and speed on the ball, very, very good,” Flick added.

Despite the defeat, the German coach expressed confidence that Barcelona could rise to PSG’s standard.

“We could see today how the level of PSG is. I’m 100 percent sure we can play like this,” he concluded.