Barcelona’s defeat to Girona has triggered a sudden shift in mood around the club. Weeks after closing a seven-point gap at the top of La Liga, the Blaugrana have slipped back into an intense title race.
The 0–4 loss to Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg has left little margin for error, and the squad knows that one more slip could end their hopes of reaching the final.
For many inside the club the moment recalls the difficult spell in 2024/25, when Hansi Flick did not hide his frustration and called that period a “shit November.” After the setback against Girona, some are already referring to a “shit February.” Still, the coach and dressing room are trying to keep perspective: the defeat exposed problems in both attack and defence, but nothing is lost yet.
As his initial response to the Girona loss, Flick gave the squad two days off so players could clear their heads and switch off from the noise around the club. The pause could be important for several key players: Pedri is expected to use the time to regain full fitness, while Lamine Yamal will look to refresh after a difficult run of games.
Refereeing controversies have also become a major talking point. While mistakes have occurred, the growing obsession with external factors risks distracting the team from its main objective.
Even so, Barcelona remain alive in every major competition: they have already secured the Spanish Super Cup and still control their own destiny in the league and in Europe.
