Barcelona battled to a difficult 2-1 win against Real Valladolid in their recent La Liga encounter, coming from behind to secure the crucial three points. This result keeps Barcelona firmly at the top of the table as they continue their push for the league title.
In their next fixtures, Barcelona will host Real Madrid at the Estadio Lluís Companys on May 11, while Real Valladolid is set to travel to face Mallorca on May 10.
As the title race tightens, Barcelona is under pressure to avoid slip-ups in the remaining matches, regardless of how their fierce rivals perform. Every point matters now, and manager Hansi Flick is determined to maintain focus within his squad. However, despite the important win, the atmosphere within the Barcelona camp wasn’t entirely positive.
According to reports from Spanish outlet El Nacional, Hansi Flick was deeply disappointed with the display of some of his players during the Valladolid match, particularly those who came off the bench. The substitutes, expected to contribute positively and help maintain the lead, failed to impress the manager, forcing him to rely on his starters to secure victory.
The publication specifically highlighted that Flick was unhappy with Ansu Fati, Pau Víctor, and Gerard Martín. He reportedly believes these players have not reached the standard expected at a club like Barcelona and has taken the drastic decision to exclude them from the squad for the remainder of the season.
Additionally, young right-back Héctor Fort came under scrutiny for his weak defensive and offensive efforts, and Flick has also chosen to sideline him moving forward. There are suggestions that Fort could be the first player shown the door in the upcoming transfer window.
Even established players weren’t spared Flick’s frustration. Dani Olmo, a key figure in the team, has seen a noticeable dip in form. Despite being brought on as a substitute in the Valladolid match, Olmo struggled to make a meaningful impact, unlike teammates Raphinha, Yamal, and De Jong, who lifted the team’s performance.
A visibly displeased Flick reportedly informed Olmo that he would not start in the crucial Champions League second-leg match against Inter Milan.
Despite the tension, Flick praised Ronald Araújo, whose standout performance in defense kept Barcelona in the game amid an otherwise shaky defensive showing.
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