FC Barcelona is experiencing hours of maximum tension after suffering a painful 2-1 defeat against Girona in Montilivi, in a match corresponding to matchday 24 of LaLiga EA Sports. The result not only meant the delivery of the three points to a direct rival in the table, but also caused the loss of the leadership in favor of Real Madrid, which now commands the classification with 60 points compared to Barça’s 58.

The crisis has settled in the Barça dressing room and the German coach Hansi Flick has not hidden his frustration, even blaming several players directly for the poor performance shown at the most delicate moment of the season.

The meeting in Girona was a perfect reflection of the problems that the team has been facing for weeks. Pau Cubarsí put the culés ahead with an early goal, but Girona’s reaction was relentless. The hosts dominated the second half, taking advantage of Barcelona’s quick transitions and defensive errors. Adama Traoré – or Lemar, according to some chronicles – equalized the score and Fran Beltrán scored the winning goal in a controversial play that involved a possible foul on Jules Koundé, insistently claimed by the Blaugrana coaching staff.

Referee César Soto Grado did not call a penalty or foul, and the VAR did not intervene, which generated widespread anger on the visiting side.

Hansi Flick, known for his calm character and positive approach, could not contain his irritation at the end of the match. In the subsequent press conference, the German coach was clear in stating that the team is not “in a good moment” and that they made “too many mistakes,” especially in the defensive transition. “We were too open and Girona had many chances. They deserved it in the second half,” he declared in a serious tone, avoiding using refereeing as the main excuse, although he admitted that the referee’s explanations did not convince him at all. “No, nothing.

“I told him it was a clear foul and he said no,” he responded when asked if the referee’s justifications had satisfied him.

But the real storm broke out in the locker room. Sources close to the club indicate that Flick, visibly upset, gathered the team as soon as they arrived at the tunnel and vented his frustration directly. The German coach, who had opted for an intense and vertical style since his arrival, was disappointed with the performance of some key players in a match that defined the course of the season.

According to verified information, the coach singled out three specific players for their low level and lack of commitment in decisive moments: Jules Koundé, for his recurring defensive errors on the right wing that have turned that area into a drain; Ronald Araújo, whose physical and positional irregularity has weighed down the defense; and a third from the midfield or attack—possibly related to the lack of intensity in the pressing—although the exact names circulate with reservation to avoid public leaks.

“You have disappointed me at the most crucial moment of the season!” Flick reportedly snapped at the trio, according to internal versions that have emerged in recent days. The message was forceful: the team needs an immediate change of attitude or the consequences will come in the form of drastic rotations, loss of ownership or even more radical decisions in the summer market. The pressure on these players is maximum, since Flick has made it clear that he will not tolerate half measures when playing for titles.

The defeat against Girona comes at the worst possible moment for Barcelona. Just days before, the team had conceded a tough 4-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals against Atlético de Madrid, which had already raised doubts about the group’s ability to react. Now, with the leadership lost and the Champions League on the horizon, the culé fans demand answers. Flick has given the squad two days of rest to “do a reset” and return with “another mentality” and “hunger to win every game.”

The German insists that the season is long and that there is still time to recover the best level, but warns: “We have to concentrate and play better. There are no excuses.”

Within the club, concern is evident. The locker room is divided between those who support the coach’s demands and those who feel that the pressure is affecting collective performance. Players like Lamine Yamal, who missed a key penalty in the match, or Pedri and Gavi (absent due to injury), do not escape critical attention, although the main focus falls on those pointed out by Flick. The next lineup could undergo important variations: entry of young people from La Masia, rotations in defense or even a tactical change to regain solidity.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid watches from the top of the table, taking advantage of the Blaugrana’s setbacks. The eternal rivalry is ignited again, and Barcelona must react quickly if it does not want to see a season that began with renewed hopes under the command of Hansi Flick fade away. The “earthquake” at the Camp Nou is served: patience is running out and the German’s decisions could mark the immediate future of the project. The locker room is boiling, the fans are clamoring for answers and the path to the titles becomes complicated. Barça, in check.