Hansi Flick takes firm stance on Barcelona dressing room disharmony

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick didn't deny that some members of his squad are frustrated and criticised the outward negativity at a crucial time in the season.

The Catalan giants maintained their four-point advantage at La Liga's summit with a breathless 4-3 victory over Celta Vigo on Saturday afternoon. Barcelona were trailing the visitors 3-1 with less than half an hour to play before Raphinha completed the comeback with a 98th-minute winning penalty.

In the immediate aftermath of that thrilling win, three Barcelona players were spotted cutting dejected figures. This soon prompted speculation of a dressing room revolt among the members of Flick's squad who are not afforded so many minutes.

"It's a situation you have to accept," Flick continued, more forcefully. "It was a great comeback, after being behind. And we made the right decision. We want to see a good reaction from the players, not what happens afterward. Everyone celebrates the victory. I like to see the players' reactions when they play."

Despite competing across four different competitions this season - and navigating La Liga's uncompromising schedule - Flick has stuck with a trusted core of players. As the campaign narrows to a fine point, the stern head coach may be tempted to lean upon those dissatisfied members of his squad as Barcelona try to complete a quadruple.

"We have to manage fatigue," Flick conceded. "It's very important to have fresh legs. We have to manage the playing time. It's not easy to manage. The players want to show they're fit and don't want to rest, and they have to accept our decisions. What we want is to make the best decisions for the team."

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