Hansi Flick on late Barcelona defeat: We need the break

Hansi Flick said Barcelona need a break after Atlético Madrid inflicted a third consecutive home league defeat on them to replace them at the top of LaLiga on Saturday.

Alexander Sorloth scored a 96th-minute winner at the Olympic Stadium after Rodrigo De Paul had cancelled Peter‘s opener as Atlético came from behind to make it 12 straight wins in all competitions.

Atlético’s form could not contrast with Barça’s, who have now won just one of their last seven league games heading into the winter break in Spain.

“Now it’s a break and I think everyone needs this break,” Flick said in the post-match press conference. “After the break we train and we want to show how strong we are.

“For us now, we are all disappointed with this defeat because we played fantastically. Now we want to celebrate Christmas, start training on December 29 and focus on what we can do in the next half of the season.”

Barça were 10 points ahead of Atlético at the start of November, but Saturday’s defeat saw them drop three points behind Diego Simeone’s side, who also have a game in hand.

However, Flick felt his side’s performance was much improved on how they have played in recent weeks, dropping points against Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, Real Betis, Las Palmas and Leganés.

Pedri gave them a deserved lead against Atlético and only a combination of wasted chances and brilliant goalkeeping from Jan Oblak prevented them from increasing their benefits.

“It was really unbelievable how we play,” added Flick. “That’s how I want to see my team. I’m proud. It also shows that Atlético are an experienced team and they’re just waiting for this and for them that’s enough.

“I think our style, how we want to play, it was really great, great. It’s really disappointing that we have nothing in our hands (from the game), that’s the big disappointment.

“I told the team that I really appreciate how we play. Maybe we need to play more intelligently. We were penalized for maybe two mistakes, we have to learn about these things, but this is the way for me.

“The quality we played, how we played … I think everyone here in the room can see this. It’s also the style that Barça will play, how they will dominate, but at the end of the day it’s football and the team that scores more goal wins.”

Flick also downplayed the relinquishment of top spot to in-form Atlético, while Real Madrid also move ahead of Barça if they beat Sevilla on Sunday.

“I know we played great in the first three months of the season, but at the end we dropped a lot of points and now we’re not leading the table,” he said.

“But at the end of the day, it’s also still a good position to tell you where you want to go. I’m not worried about that. The team is doing really well. Today they showed everyone how well they can play. From now on , that should be our standard.”

The German coach also reserved special praise for Pedri who, in addition to his goal, delivered a brilliant performance against Atlético, creating four big chances that were not taken by his teammates.

“It’s really good to see him now at this level,” Flick said. “The way he played was fantastic, the goal was unbelievably good. When you see him now on the pitch, he also trains the other players around him. It’s good. It’s the next step for him. He’s 22 years old and he’s on the right way.”