New Delhi: Barcelona walked away with three points against Alves but the most talked moment after the final whistle wasn’t a goal or a celebration. In fact, it was Hansi Flick sitting on the bench, frustrated with his head lowered, looking visibly drained despite a 3–1 win. The image spread quickly online and immediately raised questions among fans. What could trouble the manager so much after a home victory?
Barca did the job on the paper. They responded to an early setback and put the match to bed with goals that should have restored confidence after a difficult midweek outing. Yet Flick wasn’t satisfied. His frustration began on the pitch where Blaugranas gave the ball away far too soon and allowed Alves to stay alive longer than they should have. The German has repeatedly pushed for improvement in control, intensity and discipline, the qualities he believes are key to competing for big trophies again.
Speaking ahead of the Atletico Madrid clash, Flick explained that the performance lingered in his mind long after full-time. Barcelona may be top of La Liga again but he knows the level isn’t close to what is required for the months ahead.
🚨 Flick: “My moment with Raphinha? Well, it was a funny thing, I don’t know who first described that I was sad!”.
“I was frustrated, we lost a lot of balls, and I was also frustrated because we got two suspensions from the bench”. pic.twitter.com/VXjyoUdGDF
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 1, 2025
Este vídeo de Raphinha con Hansi Flick tras el Barça-Alavés es brutal.
Dice mucho de cómo se está sintiendo el entrenador alemán esta temporada. pic.twitter.com/QWtX4VMAPU
— Albert Ortega (@AlbertOrtegaES1) November 29, 2025
As per the reports, there were other layers as well as two of his closest colleagues, assistants Marcus Sorg and Jose Ramon de la Fuente were shown red cards during the game. The pair will now be absent for the next fixtures including a massive one against Atletico.
Flick admitted the situation upset him as Sorg is someone he trusts heavily and sees as family in the high-pressure environment of Camp Nou. Losing calm on the touchline during a moment of success clearly didn’t sit well with him.
There was also frustration over a penalty call Barcelona never received for Lamine Yamal in the first half, which added to the tension and confusion on a night that should have been more straightforward.
Bigger picture
As per Spanish media Flick’s reaction stems from deeper worries as the team’s performance has dipped compared to last season’s title-winning campaign. The pace, the sharpness and the consistency have faded. Flick understands the pressure that comes with being defending champions but if rivals raise their game then every mistake gets magnified.
Barca captain Raphinha tried to console Flick after the match and hinted at the same thing that intensity will decide how far they will go this season.
What comes next
Despite the emotional scenes, Flick stressed he is happy at Barcelona and ready for the challenge ahead. But he didn’t hide the truth stating that this squad has to rediscover its top level quickly.
A strong performance against Atletico Madrid would help calm the nerves both inside the dressing room and among supporters watching closely. One thing is clear that Flick’s reaction wasn’t about sadness rather it was the look of a coach who knows exactly how high the expectations are and how much work still lies ahead.