Flick points to clear cause after defeats to PSG and Real Madrid

Flick blamed fatigue from Barcelona's congested fixture schedule after losses to PSG and Real Madrid, citing insufficient recovery time between matches.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick attributed his side's defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid to a lack of freshness caused by the club's demanding schedule. After losing to PSG in the Champions League, Barcelona fell to Real Madrid in El Clásico, with Flick pointing to inadequate recovery as the key factor in both results.

"It was clear that we were not 100 per cent fresh," Flick said post-match. "We play everywhere and nowhere, and sometimes there are only two days between two matches. Three hours on a plane in Seville, returning to the hotel and then on to Paris... that is a lot." He noted Barcelona played Betis on 17 October before travelling to Paris three days later for their Champions League fixture.

Flick insisted he was not making excuses but stating facts, and rejected any suggestion the losses would trigger a crisis. He plans to give players two days off after Monday's training to recover mentally and physically ahead of three remaining matches before the international break. "These defeats do not create doubts in the team," he said. "In top matches, it is the details that make the difference."