The aftermath of FC Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final second leg clash against Borussia Dortmund has been anything but celebratory, despite the Catalan giants securing their passage to the semi-finals of Europe’s premier club competition. While the final whistle at the Signal Iduna Park confirmed Barcelona’s qualification, thanks to their commanding 4-0 victory in the first leg at Montjuic, the subsequent hours have been dominated by reports of internal friction and simmering discontent within the Barcelona camp.
Despite achieving the primary objective of reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in six long years, the overall performance of Hansi Flick’s Barcelona side in the return leg against Borussia Dortmund has reportedly left a sour taste in the mouth of the German coach. The 3-1 defeat on German soil, which marked Barcelona’s first loss in all competitions in the year 2025, exposed vulnerabilities and shortcomings that have evidently deeply concerned the meticulous Flick.
According to exclusive information emanating from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional,” Hansi Flick’s post-match demeanor was far from that of a manager basking in the glory of a Champions League semi-final berth. Instead, the German tactician is said to be visibly unhappy and even furious with the manner in which his Barcelona team performed against a determined Borussia Dortmund outfit.
Flick’s reported anger is particularly directed towards a specific duo of Barcelona players whose performances he deemed to be significantly below par and detrimental to the team’s overall structure and defensive solidity. These two individuals, according to the Spanish publication, are none other than the Uruguayan central defender Ronald Araujo and the French full-back Jules Kounde.
Ronald Araujo, a player often lauded for his physicality and commanding presence in the heart of the Barcelona defense, is reportedly singled out by Flick as having been a clear weak link in the team’s backline during the match against Dortmund. The newspaper suggests that Flick was particularly incensed by Araujo’s naive contribution to Borussia Dortmund’s third goal, viewing it as an avoidable error that compounded Barcelona’s defensive woes on the night.
Adding to Flick’s frustrations is the performance of Jules Kounde, the French international who has often been deployed at right-back for Barcelona.1 “El Nacional” indicates that Flick’s assessment of Kounde’s display was far from positive, with the German coach reportedly believing that the Frenchman’s performance against Dortmund served as further evidence of Barcelona’s pressing need to invest in a top-quality right-back during the upcoming summer transfer window.The Spanish newspaper further claims that Hansi Flick is already contemplating the possibility of sanctioning the departure of Ronald Araujo in the next transfer window. This bold assertion suggests that Flick’s dissatisfaction with the Uruguayan defender goes beyond just the performance against Dortmund, with the German coach reportedly believing that Araujo’s playing style is not entirely compatible with his own tactical philosophy and that he represents the weakest link in Barcelona’s current defensive setup.
Moreover, Flick’s unhappiness extends to the performance of the full-back Gerard Martin, whose display in the second leg is described as “disastrous” by the Spanish newspaper. Despite Barcelona’s qualification, Flick reportedly viewed Martin’s contribution as a major defensive liability, suggesting that his performance almost cost the team their place in the Champions League semi-finals, despite the significant advantage gained in the first leg.
The depth of Flick’s frustration with Martin’s performance is further highlighted by a reported comment made by the German coach to his assistant after the game. According to “El Nacional,” Flick sarcastically remarked that “He was the 12th player at Borussia Dortmund,” implying that Martin’s errors and defensive lapses inadvertently aided the German side’s cause more than his own team’s.
In a surprising turn of events, Hansi Flick’s critical assessment of his players reportedly extends beyond the defensive unit. The newspaper suggests that the German coach, who has previously shown considerable faith in the talented young winger Lamine Yamal, was also far from impressed with the teenager’s recent performances.
Flick is reportedly angry with Lamine Yamal for what he perceives as a dip in form during a crucial period of the season. Furthermore, the report claims that Flick was displeased with Yamal’s reaction – described as “unjustified anger” – when he was substituted during the match against Borussia Dortmund. In a direct warning to the young star, Flick is quoted as saying, “Your continuation of this level in the most important period of the season will ruin the dreams of the team.”
Adding another layer of intrigue to this unfolding drama is the reported intervention of FC Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, in the immediate aftermath of the match. According to the Spanish newspaper, Laporta made his way down to the team’s dressing room and directly approached Hansi Flick to convey his concerns regarding the coach’s handling of certain players.
In a surprising move, Laporta reportedly asked Hansi Flick to refrain from publicly praising Robert Lewandowski at the expense of the overall team performance. Laporta is said to believe that the veteran Polish striker should have been substituted earlier in the match due to what he perceived as a poor performance and a lack of pressure on the Borussia Dortmund defenders.
The Barcelona president reportedly suspects that Flick’s reluctance to substitute Lewandowski earlier in the game stemmed from a desire to see the Polish international score a goal that would strengthen his position in the Champions League top scorer race. Laporta allegedly warned Flick against prioritizing individual accolades over the collective interests of the team, particularly at this critical juncture of the season, with crucial matches and potential silverware still within reach.
Laporta is said to have firmly instructed Flick to prioritize the interests of the team above the individual interests of any single player, emphasizing the importance of unity and collective effort as Barcelona navigates the final and decisive stages of the season. This reported intervention from the president suggests a potential underlying tension and differing perspectives between the Barcelona hierarchy and their newly appointed head coach regarding team selection and player management.
The unfolding narrative at FC Barcelona, where qualification for the Champions League semi-finals is overshadowed by reports of managerial discontent and presidential intervention, paints a picture of a club grappling with internal pressures and perhaps a clash of egos and philosophies. While the achievement of reaching the final four in Europe is undoubtedly a significant milestone, the manner in which it was achieved, and the subsequent fallout, raise questions about the harmony and direction within the Catalan giants as they look ahead to the challenges that lie ahead.
