DORTMUND, Germany — Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said he had to remind his disappointed players they had reached the Champions League semifinal after Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund.
Serhou Guirassy‘s hat trick snapped Barça’s 24-match unbeaten streak since the start of 2025 at a noisy Signal Iduna Park, but the Catalans won the tie 5-3 on aggregate after a 4-0 first leg victory last week.
It’s the first time Barça have reached the semifinald since 2019, with either Bayern Munich or Inter Milan up next.
“I think everyone here recognises and appreciates the team’s performances this season,” Flick said in a news conference when asked if the result had been accompanied by excessive negativity.
“Today was not our best game. I understand the questions in that respect, but I think we still have cause to be happy.
“There was not a great atmosphere in the dressing room, either. It was only when I told them ‘Lads, we’re in the semifinal’ that it lifted a bit.
“But of course that’s what the players expect of themselves. They want to win every game. Today they’re a little disappointed, but I think the happiness of going through will prevail.”
Flick rested Pedri and Iñigo Martínez in Dortmund, while Alejandro Balde was missing with an injury, and the home side, buoyed by an incredible atmosphere, started strongly.
Guirassy opened the scoring from the penalty spot early on and headed in a second after the break to fuel belief of an unlikely comeback.
Ramy Bensebaini‘s own goal appeared to end the tie, only for Guirassy to strike again to set up a fascinating finale.
Barça held on, though, and Flick felt they were worthy winners over the two legs.
“We played two games,” he added. “We won the first 4-0 and here we have lost 3-1. I think we deserved to reach the semifinal.
“Dortmund made life difficult for us. The atmosphere was extraordinary, but we are in the last four.
“It will be important to analyse this game, but we’ve accumulated a lot of matches and it could be normal [to drop the performance level].
“But I am really satisfied with the team and the performances this season. We’re still in three competitions. We’re in the Champions League semifinal. This is a huge success and we can be happy for that.”
Barça now have back-to-back LaLiga games at home to Celta Vigo and Mallorca as they look to maintain their four-point lead at the top of the standings.
They then face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on April 26, with defender Jules Koundé keen to quickly eradicate the mistakes that blighted them in Dortmund.
“I am really happy to be in the semifinal, but disappointed with how we played,” Kounde told reporters.
“We lacked everything we did well in the first leg: pressing, closing passing lanes. We were not up to it today. We made mistakes, switched off. Flick told us we had to improve at halftime. Maybe we did a little in the second half.
“We have to keep going and not stop doing what we have done throughout the season. We have to be happy with the work the team has put in so far.”
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