Barcelona played out a thrilling 4-4 draw against Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Tuesday evening at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. With the tie now wide open, the decisive second leg will take place at the Metropolitano, where Atlético will have the advantage of playing in front of their home fans.
According to the Spanish outlet El Nacional, Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, was furious after the dramatic draw, directing his anger at three players he believed were responsible for the team’s failure to secure a victory.
The primary target of his criticism was Ferran Torres, who squandered two clear-cut chances in the first half, missing open-net opportunities that could have changed the course of the game.
Another player on Flick’s list was Jules Koundé. The French defender struggled throughout the match, failing to contain Atlético’s counterattacks and making costly defensive errors that contributed to the visitors’ comeback. His inability to maintain defensive discipline allowed Atlético to exploit gaps and score crucial goals.
The third player Flick held accountable was Gavi. Coming on as a substitute, the young midfielder failed to maintain control in the middle of the park, which led to Marcos Llorente scoring Atlético’s third goal with minimal resistance. His lack of defensive coverage further destabilized Barcelona, making it easier for the opposition to find attacking spaces.
In response to these performances, Flick made a decisive move by dropping Ferran Torres from the starting lineup for the remainder of the season. The coach reportedly deemed his display unacceptable and decided to exclude him from future starting selections.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Flick later admitted to making a mistake with his substitutions. He personally apologized to Pedri and Raphinha, acknowledging that withdrawing them late in the second half negatively impacted the team and played a role in Atlético’s comeback.
Adding to the tension, club president Joan Laporta stormed into the locker room, visibly furious with the outcome.
He reportedly blamed Flick’s tactical decisions—particularly his substitution choices—for the team’s inability to secure the win. Laporta also expressed his dissatisfaction with Gavi’s performance and urged Flick to reinstate Marc Casadó in the starting eleven at the youngster’s expense, believing his presence could have helped Barcelona maintain control and avoid the late collapse.
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