Barcelona’s first football team suffered a significant setback by losing the Joan Gamper Cup final to French side AS Monaco 3-0, marking the first time in 12 years that Barcelona has failed to win this prestigious pre-season tournament.
The defeat has raised concerns within the club, especially as they prepare for the upcoming season under the leadership of their new German coach, Hansi Flick.
After the match, Flick addressed the media, acknowledging the disappointment but emphasizing that it’s still the pre-season. He assured fans that the team is capable of much better performances than what was displayed against Monaco and expressed confidence that improvements would be made in their upcoming match against Valencia. Flick also stressed the importance of learning from the loss to ensure better outcomes in the future.
However, reports from the Spanish newspaper *Sport* suggest that Flick’s post-match comments masked a deeper frustration. The German coach is reportedly very upset with the club’s management, particularly regarding Barcelona’s failure to offload certain players whose sales would have provided the necessary funds to strengthen the squad for the new season.
According to *Sport*, Flick is dissatisfied with Barcelona’s inability to finalize key transfers, which he believes are crucial for the team to compete at the highest level in the upcoming season.
One of the main issues reportedly troubling Flick is the situation surrounding Spanish winger Ferran Torres. Flick is said to be unconvinced by Torres’ abilities and has made it clear that he wants the player to leave the club immediately.
Flick’s dissatisfaction with Torres is so strong that he has reportedly warned Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, against keeping the player, as he does not intend to rely on him in the upcoming season.
In addition to Torres, Brazilian forward Vitor Roque is another player Flick is eager to move on from. Despite being a young talent with potential, Roque has not impressed Flick, who reportedly feels that the Brazilian lacks the necessary quality to play for a club of Barcelona’s stature.
Flick’s desire to see Roque leave the club reflects his broader concerns about the overall quality and depth of the squad.
The third player Flick wants to see depart is French defender Clement Lenglet. According to the *Sport* report, Flick has lost confidence in Lenglet due to his inconsistent performances and believes that the defender is not up to the standard required for Barcelona. Flick is pushing for the club to sell Lenglet this summer as part of his efforts to overhaul the squad and bring in players who he feels can genuinely contribute to the team’s success.
Flick’s frustration also extends to Barcelona’s transfer activities. He is reportedly urging Laporta to finalize the signing of Spanish winger Nico Williams, a player Flick views as essential to the team’s prospects for the upcoming season.
The German coach has warned that failure to secure Williams could result in a disastrous season for Barcelona, potentially repeating the disappointments of the previous campaign.
The heavy defeat to Monaco in the Joan Gamper Cup has sounded alarm bells within the club, with Flick using the match as a warning sign of what could lie ahead if Barcelona does not address its squad issues promptly. The loss has underscored the need for immediate action in the transfer market and has heightened the urgency for the club’s management to support Flick’s vision for the team.
