FC Barcelona faced a bitter day after their elimination in the Champions League semifinals, but their coach, Hansi Flick, made it clear that the team's spirit remains intact. In a press conference following the thrilling match that ended 4-3 in favor of Inter, Flick expressed his pride in his players' commitment, despite the adverse result.
“I am disappointed with the result, not with the team's performance. They gave it their all, and it is what it is. We are out, but next year we will try again,” stated the German coach, emphasizing that the goal of winning the Champions remains a target to achieve. “We want to make our fans happy, and the team deserves everything,” he added.
However, Flick could not avoid criticizing the officiating by Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, pointing out that “every 50/50 decision ended up going their way.” Although he was reluctant to delve deeper into the subject, he made it clear that some refereeing decisions had influenced the final outcome. “I don’t want to talk too much about the referee, but what happened is that Inter also plays and is a great team,” he commented.
The coach also praised Inter, acknowledging their quality and organization on the field. “They defend very well, have good forwards, and maintain possession with automation. We will learn from this experience and come back stronger,” assured Flick, who remains optimistic about the future.
With an eye on the upcoming Clásico in La Liga, the Barça coach emphasized the importance of continuing to fight for titles. “We play to win, and on Sunday we have a very tough match. Every player, when they get home at four in the morning, can be proud of looking at themselves in the mirror,” he concluded.