Hansi Flick’s high-risk, high-reward system was brutally exposed in consecutive games earlier this month. First, PSG exposed their high line by scoring a last-minute winner through Goncalo Ramos in Champions League. Then, Sevilla piled on to their misery by handing a humiliating 4-1 defeat just days later. Flick’s tactics have come under fire, with former players Thierry Henry and Toni Kroos claiming that teams have developed strategies to counter Barca’s gung-ho approach.
Szczesny started against both PSG and Sevilla after first-choice goalkeeper Joan Garcia was ruled out for four weeks due to a torn meniscus injury. Speaking to Mundo Deportivo the veteran Pole provided his thoughts on the successive defeats. While he admitted that what happened against Sevilla “could happen to us again”, he is not too worried.
“They were two completely different matches,” he explained. “PSG were better than us, more precise, fresher, and tactically very good. We don’t like it, it hurts, but we have to accept the result against PSG. On the other hand, in Seville we didn’t give 100%; the first half was terrible, a terrible match. It’s a little worrying, but it’s important to understand that this season won’t be all easy, that we have to be focused, and that if we don’t give 100%, we can get hit. We have to do much better.
“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about, just that if we want to have a season like last year’s or better, if we don’t give 100% in every game and stay focused, what happened to us in Seville could happen to us again, but we have a very intelligent group and everyone has understood: we have to work, recover, and relax.
“Flick wasn’t happy, obviously, because if you’re Barca’s coach and you lose two games in three days, it’s not the best scenario. You have to understand that when you lose games, it’s time to get back to work, give your best, and compete for titles like we did last year.”
Szczesny emphasised on the importance of staying humble in order to continue winning titles. “I think that after a match, emotions are running high,” he added. “I think it’s important for the players to understand that just because we won three titles last season and played beautiful football doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy this year.
“It’s going to be much harder, so we can’t rest or relax because everyone is talking about how great Barcelona was last year. It’s going to be much harder. You have to prove it again and again and again. That’s what great champions do. We have an example in Robert [Lewandowski], who won 14 titles in his 16-year career. So, it’s not enough to have a great season and then relax. Your ego isn’t important. You have to stay humble, work hard, and that’s the only way to improve and get results.”
Barcelona will face Girona upon the resumption of domestic league after the ongoing international break ends. They will also lock horns will Olympiacos in the Champions League, but it’s the Clasico against eternal rivals Real Madrid on October 26 that could potentially decide the La Liga title race. The loss against Sevilla meant that the Blaugrana are two points behind Xabi Alonso’s men after eight rounds. Another loss could further widen the gap, a possibility that will be weighing on the minds of Flick and his troops.
