UCL: Real reason we lost to Monaco – Barcelona coach Flick, opens up

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has acknowledged that Eric Garcia’s 10th-minute red card drastically impacted his team’s performance, leading to a 2-1 loss against Monaco in the Champions League on Thursday.

Monaco, making their return to the competition after a five-year absence, took advantage of Barcelona being reduced to 10 men, with Maghnes Akilouche opening the scoring. Although Lamine Yamal equalized for Barcelona, George Ilenikhena’s goal sealed a shock victory for the Ligue 1 side.

In his post-match interview, Flick admitted that the red card “changed the game completely,” giving Monaco the upper hand.

He praised Monaco’s performance, stating, “Monaco deserved the win,” but encouraged his players to remain proud despite the disappointment. He added that Barcelona must now shift their focus to the next challenge on Sunday.