Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona faced off this Tuesday at the Parc des Princes as part of the third matchday of the 2026-2027 Champions League league phase. The encounter ended in a 4-2 victory for the Parisian side. Following the match, the Spanish team’s coach, Hansi Flick, spoke at a press conference.
Flick: “We made too many mistakes”
What is your take on the match?
It was a fantastic game for both teams. We made too many mistakes, particularly in possession. We need to analyze that. But I also saw a lot of good things. It was a very good test for us; we’ve seen the areas where we need to improve.
Flick: “You can’t win titles in October”
What lesson can be taken from this match?
I think it’s fair to say—though this is not an excuse—that the team wasn’t fresh. What the squad has achieved over the last few weeks is incredible. I really like the team’s attitude. We wanted to play our game and pressed high. They have a fantastic side.
You also have to consider that we had a difficult journey back from Seville, which isn’t ideal for recovery. That’s not an excuse, but it might explain why we weren’t at our absolute best. Ultimately, you always have to learn from a match like this. You can’t win titles in October—those are won in June.
Flick: “A very good experience for analyzing what we need to improve.”
Did the upcoming match against Real Madrid influence your squad management?
Certainly—take Rodri, for example. There are also injuries to consider. Our full-backs played a great game; it’s never easy against forwards like these. There are many positive takeaways. Including Xavi Espart at right-back.
Is the team far from being defensively competitive against Europe’s elite?
Against Manchester City, PSG also scored several goals. After it went to 3–2, I could see the team was truly disappointed—and then came the 4–2. There were plenty of positive aspects, too. We have potential; I choose to focus on the positives. It was a very good experience for analyzing what we need to improve.
Flick: “We need more conviction.”
What lessons were learned?
PSG created many chances, and Joan made some great saves—but we had our own opportunities as well. In previous matches, we managed to convert those into goals. We need to play with more composure, better positioning, and stronger connections. At times, we need to be clearer in our actions—to play with more conviction. That’s what I took away from the match against PSG.
Would Rodri have started if this had been a regular league match on Sunday?
Yes, I can say that. He has played a lot, and I explained to him that we had made this decision. Bernal started, which worked out well for us. We played a fantastic match.
