Hansi Flick mentioned Barcelona want a break after Atlético Madrid inflicted a 3rd straight residence league defeat on them to exchange them on the high of LaLiga on Saturday.
Alexander Sørloth scored a 96th-minute winner on the Olympic Stadium after Rodrigo De Paul had cancelled out Pedri‘s opener as Atlético got here from behind to make it 12 consecutive wins in all competitions.
Atlético’s type couldn’t distinction extra with Barça’s, who’ve now received simply considered one of their final seven league video games heading into the winter break in Spain.
“Now it is a break and I believe everybody wants this break,” Flick mentioned within the post-game information convention. “After the break we are going to prepare and we are going to present how sturdy we’re.
“For us now, we’re all disillusioned about this defeat as a result of we performed incredible. Now we are going to have fun Christmas, begin coaching on Dec. 29 and give attention to what we are able to do within the subsequent half of the season.”
Barça have been 10 factors away from Atlético in the beginning of November, however Saturday’s defeat noticed them fall three factors behind Diego Simeone’s facet, who even have a sport in hand.
However, Flick felt his group’s efficiency was a lot improved from how they’ve performed in latest weeks, after they have dropped factors in opposition to Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, Real Betis, Las Palmas and Leganés.
Pedri gave them a deserved lead in opposition to Atlético and solely a mix of missed probabilities and sensible goalkeeping from Jan Oblak prevented them from including to their benefit.
“It was actually unbelievable how we play,” Flick added. “This is how I wish to see my group. I’m proud. It reveals additionally that Atlético is an skilled group they usually simply ready for this and for them it is sufficient.
“I believe our type, how we wish to play, it was actually nice, incredible. It’s actually disappointing that we now have nothing in our arms [from the game], that is the large disappointment.
“I mentioned to the group I actually respect how we play. Maybe we now have to play extra clever. We have been punished for possibly two errors, we now have to find out about this stuff, however this, for me, is the best way.
“The high quality we performed, how we performed … I believe everybody right here within the room can see this. This can also be the type how Barça wish to play, how they wish to dominate, however on the finish it is soccer and the group who scores extra objective wins.”
Flick additionally downplayed ceding high spot to in-form Atlético, whereas Real Madrid will even transfer forward of Barça in the event that they beat Sevilla on Sunday.
“I do know that we performed incredible within the first three months of the season, however on the finish we misplaced quite a lot of factors and now we’re not chief of the desk,” he mentioned.
“But, on the finish, it is also nonetheless an excellent place, to let you realize the place you wish to go. I’m not apprehensive about that. The group’s doing actually good. Today they confirmed everybody how good they will play. From now, this must be our normal.”
The German coach additionally reserved particular reward for Pedri, who other than his objective delivered an excellent efficiency in opposition to Atlético, creating 4 massive probabilities that weren’t taken by his teammates.
“It’s actually good to see that he is now on this stage,” Flick mentioned. “How he performed was incredible, the objective was unbelievably good. When you see him now on the pitch, he is additionally teaching the opposite gamers round him. This is sweet. It’s the following step for him. He’s 22-years-old and he is on the fitting manner.”
