The reasons behind Hansi Flick's promise at Stamford Bridge

London / BarcelonaIn the Chelsea neighborhood, the fans blue They walked around on Wednesday with puffed-out chests afterward. Those who approached the newsstands to buy could read headlines like Barcelona's nightmare (Barça's nightmare). The English newspapers also lauded Estevao, who scored the 2-0, goal that sealed Barça's fate and in which he captured Pau Cubarsí's likeness. In fact, some sections of the English fans at Stamford Bridge He dedicated himself to singing to Lamine Yamal that Estevao, signed from Palmeiras last season for 45 million euros, was better than him.

The Barcelona star, still playing with discomfort from the pubalgia he's been suffering from, started off being booed. A symbol of the fear the home fans had of him, but it soon became clear that the number 10 wasn't going to have a good night in the London stadium, and the intimidating whistles turned into jeers. Former Barcelona player Marc Cucurella got the better of him for almost the entire match. "He was very motivated, because of his past at Barça, he was eager to prove himself," sources close to the player explained to ARA.

The defender from Alella, captain without the armband at Chelsea, was one of his team's best players and made life difficult for Lamine Yamal. "The marking wasn't planned. Anyone who watches Marc's matches regularly knows he always defends like that, with that intensity and persistence. There's Lamine Yamal or any other winger ahead of him." Ernesto Valverde, when he was Barcelona's coach, never trusted him enough as Jordi Alba's backup. The sporting management at the time didn't fight hard enough for him either, neither when he went on loan to Eibar, nor when he had the option to return and continued his journey to Getafe before making the leap to England, where he would shine at Brighton. In the summer of 2022, Pep Guardiola wanted to sign him, but City wasn't willing to match the more than 65 million that Chelsea paid.

After a few complicated seasons with the London club, the full-back from Alella has found stability with Enzo Maresca. "With Guardiola we thought he could reach his peak, but with Maresca he's at a top level," a source close to the player explains. He's one of the leaders in the locker room. blueAt 27 years old and in his fourth season in London, he is the second most veteran player after Reece James.

The reasons behind Hansi Flick's optimism

Cucurella managed to neutralize Lamine Yamal, but the Blaugrana debacle was a collective one. Hansi Flick lamented in the Stamford Bridge press room that Chelsea were "stronger, more aggressive, and more dynamic," while also discussing the difficulties of playing the entire second half with ten men. However, the manager also wanted to remain calm and move on: "We'll see a different Barça, I can promise you that," he told the press in London. "We're getting players back. Joan is back, as is Raphinha, who needs to get back into rhythm. Pedri is also about to return. If we avoid injuries from now on, the manager will soon be able to play them together and help them get consistent playing time," a source close to the dressing room explained to ARA.

The same source emphasizes that Flick's belief in turning things around stems from the fact that "he has perceived a change in the team" despite the setback in London. He is also reassured that "there isn't another international break until March." Players like Lamine Yamal, Fermín, Ferran, De Jong, and Lewandowski have seen their fitness affected by international commitments, while there have also been internal changes in the dressing room regarding the rehabilitation of injured players. This key task fell to Julio Tous at the start of the season, and after complaints from some players, the Barça medical staff have returned to their duties. Finally, "the return to the Camp Nou" and "a tight schedule of matches, but with manageable opponents" are also factors that Flick is confident will work in their favor. In the Champions League, the next opponent is Eintracht Frankfurt at home, while in La Liga, the most difficult away matches are against Betis and Villarreal, while Alavés and Osasuna are at home. The toughest opponent at the Camp Nou until January will be Atlético de Madrid.