"I know this situation and we have lost two important matches in a week, but I am 100% convinced of my team," Hansi Flick told Europa Press, in comments translated from Spanish. The Barcelona coach is not selling a reset after defeats to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Real Madrid in El Clásico. With Alaves next at the Spotify Camp Nou at 21.00 hours, his message is much simpler: cut the turnovers, control the game better and trust the same idea.

Flick's message after two losses

Flick's public line is stable. He pointed back to the start of the campaign, when Barcelona won their first 11 matches, and argued that two defeats do not change the wider plan.

Quoted in Spanish by Europa Press, he said: "We won the first 11 matches and now we have two defeats. We have to get back on the path of victories and that is our work, what we have to do. I am 100% convinced of our idea, of how we want to play football; I think it is the best thing for this team and nothing else, we will go down this path until the end and I think that this is the most important thing for me, that we are convinced of it."

That stance looks fair enough when you put the run in context. Barcelona are still top of La Liga, so this is a response to a dip rather than a club scrambling for a new identity. Flick is defending the process and asking for cleaner execution.

His explanation for the recent drop was specific. Quoted in Spanish by Europa Press, he said: "First of all, we must not lose an easy ball; ball losses like the ones we had against Madrid are not good nor are they the quality we normally have. Maybe we were a little tired or not fresh enough, but we have to play with more concentration. To control the match, have more possession and fewer losses is the key; if you lose the ball, you have to run after it, and this is not the best moment for us. The best way is to make fewer mistakes, stay calm and play with much more control."

That probably tells you more about Saturday's plan than any lineup leak would. In Barcelona vs Alaves, the expectation is not for a dramatic change in shape or intent. It is for Barcelona to look after the ball better and stop turning matches into transitions.

Selection problems behind the message

The calm tone does not mean Flick has a clean squad to work with. He said Barcelona currently have only two central defenders available, Gerard Martín and Pau Cubarsí, and raised the option of using Frenkie de Jong deeper if needed.

That makes the Alaves game awkward in a practical sense, not just an emotional one. Barcelona need a reaction, but they also need solutions. Flick's point about control becomes even more important when the back line is stretched, because a team short on specialist defenders can ill afford repeated cheap losses of possession.

There are other management calls around the squad too. Raphinha has 13 league goals and 9 La Liga appearances this season, so Flick's concern over his workload is not a small detail. Speaking to Europa Press in comments translated from Spanish, he said: "I also spoke with Deco; he is a very important player and after the last international break he arrived injured, which was not the best situation. He is captain here and I know that this club is in his heart, but in the same way he is Brazilian and when the national team calls, he is there. If we can manage his minutes a little I will be happy, but there is nothing in my hand that I can change; I cannot wait for the World Cup."

Lamine Yamal and the mood around the squad

Flick also had to address the Ballon d'Or aftermath around Lamine Yamal. He finished third, and Flick used that to praise his mentality rather than frame the result as a distraction.

Quoted in Spanish by Europa Press, Flick said: "Pau deserved to win this trophy (the Kopa, for the best young player) because Lamine had already won it in the last two seasons, and for me it is the best sign to give it to Pau because he played an incredible last season and an excellent World Cup. I am very proud of Lamine because he reacts very well, he is very focused in training and that is how champions respond. He has a really good mentality for the team and I am happy that this has ended so that we can focus on what is important."

Some of the conversation around Yamal has been about disappointment after the awards, but Flick's version is pretty clear. He sees a player who has responded well and kept training standards high.

That fits the broader mood he is trying to set at Barcelona. Two losses, against major opponents, have not pushed him into panic or public self-doubt. Barcelona host Alaves on Saturday night still top of La Liga, and Flick wants the response to come through calmer football rather than a change of idea.

FAQ

Why is Hansi Flick staying calm after Barcelona's back-to-back defeats?

Flick is sticking with the same approach because Barcelona won their first 11 matches before losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Real Madrid in El Clasico. He said nothing has changed in his belief in the team, and his focus is on reducing careless turnovers, keeping more possession and controlling matches better.

What did Hansi Flick say Barcelona need to improve before facing Alaves?

Flick said Barcelona need fewer ball losses, more concentration and better control of possession. He pointed to the way the team gave the ball away against Madrid and said the key is to stay calm, make fewer mistakes and avoid spending long periods running after the ball.

How is Barcelona handling the reaction to Lamine Yamal's Ballon d'Or finish?

Flick used the moment to praise Lamine Yamal's mentality. Yamal finished third in the Ballon d'Or, and Flick said he had reacted very well in training and stayed focused. He also said Pau deserved the Kopa Trophy after Yamal had won it in the previous two seasons.

Why is Raphinha's workload an issue for Barcelona right now?

Flick said Raphinha arrived injured after the last international break and that his minutes may need managing. The concern is obvious because Raphinha has 13 league goals and has made 9 La Liga appearances, so Barcelona are trying to protect a key player rather than rotate someone on the fringes.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →