Spanish Super Cup win, first key objective of 2025 for Barcelona squad
The first domestic title of the season is up for grabs as Athletic, Mallorca, Real Madrid and Barça head to Jeddah for the Super Cup.
The FC Barcelona dressing room was totally dejected after Saturday’s home game against Atlético Madrid. The players struggled to deal with the nature of the last minute loss and not even the words of coach Hansi Flick, congratulating the team for their effort, dedication and sacrifice, held any consolation.
At Montjuic on Saturday, Barça were indeed impressive and the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for a side who created plenty of chances but were hit in added time with a sucker punch as Sorloth struck for Atleti.
Sporting director Deco also paid a visit to the dressing room, agreeing with Flick that the team had played well and that this is the way forward.
Some players were particularly despondent after the defeat, especially Raphinha, who blamed himself for the result, despite delivering a fine performance for the Catalan side. He was angry for missing a series of chances and for conceding possession in the move that led to the last minute counter-attack.
Barça squad turn the page
Fortunately for Barça, many of the first team squad are anxious to move onto the next challenge as soon as possible and have their sights now set on the Spanish Super Cup. This is the case of Gavi who stated that “we have the first title of the season just around the corner and we are convinced of our chances. That is why I ask the fans to trust us now more than ever.”
AS has also been told by a Barça insider that the players have singled out the Spanish Super Cup as a priority objective. So much so that a heavyweight within the group claimed: “We are going to rest, recover well and prepare to start the year from scratch, as if nothing had happened. The first title of the season is imminent and we have to win it; we owe it to the manager.” The club also assumes that the Super Cup, despite being a minor title with no prize bonus stipulated in the player’s contracts - could be an important turning point in the season: a victory would be the first title of the Flick era and would leave behind almost two years of Barça drought.
The Catalan side face Athletic Club on 8 January four days after their first game of 2025 when they head back to UD Barbastro to face the 2A RFEF side again (they beat the Aragones team last season 2-3).
Lamine Yamal is anxious to win his first title in a Barcelona jersey with the club hoping that he will be able to travel to Saudi Arabia, assuming that he is match-fit after recovering from his ankle injury.
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