Barcelona perfect start to di season don collect serious knock afta back-to-back defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, but coach Hansi Flick and im players insist say nothing spoil.
Di Blaugrana bin win each of dia first 11 matches in all competitions, dey score goals anyhow, and many people bin dey call dem one of Europe most dangerous teams. Dat run stop when PSG beat dem 4-2 for Champions League, before Real Madrid take dem down 2-1 for El Clasico.
Di two losses raise question about di team defensive weakness and dia physical condition, and e also bring scrutiny on Flick and im squad. Barca Blaugranes tok say di results show familiar problems wey dey worry di club, while The New York Times describe am as di moment Real Madrid and PSG bring Barcelona back to earth.
Flick no dey panic. According to beIN SPORTS, di coach tok say di season na “very long road” and e no dey shake by di results.
Message from inside di Barcelona dressing room na di same one: calm. According to The Athletic, wey SPORT carry, di players and staff believe say di two defeats no suppose cover di progress wey di team don make early for di season. One source from di locker room tell di publication say, “We weren’t the best team in history before, and now we’re not a disaster.” Di source add say, “These moments happen throughout a football season.”
Di feeling inside di camp be say ups and downs dey normal for long season, and wetin matter pass na to peak at di right time.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid get another reason to smile. Di club don emerge as clear favourites to sign Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel, according to Diario SPORT. Di 16-year-old, wey dem see as di biggest English talent wey dey come through Premier League ranks, bin reject PSG improved sporting and financial proposal because e wan continue im career for Spain.
Barcelona bin pull out of di race because of di financial demands, and Bayern Munich bin already abandon dia own pursuit. Real Madrid dey ready to invest over €10 million in a three-year package for di teenager, but di deal never complete. Dem still need to reach exit arrangement with Manchester United.
Gabriel, wey be England youth international, score 20 goals in 21 U-18 Premier League games last season and net hat-trick on im UEFA Youth League debut in September.
