Flick demands defensive improvement from Barcelona midfielder after Atletico draw | OneFootball

Barcelona’s 4-4 draw against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg left a bitter taste at Can Barça.

After mounting an impressive comeback from 0-2 down to lead 4-2, the Catalans conceded two late goals, leaving the semi-final tie wide open ahead of the second leg in Madrid.

Several factors contributed to Barcelona’s collapse. The team started poorly and struggled to control the final minutes, and Hansi Flick himself admitted that some of his substitutions may not have been ideal.

However, the German coach has also pinpointed individual mistakes, with Frenkie de Jong among those under scrutiny.

Flick demands greater defensive aggression from De Jong

Indeed, as per MARCA, Flick has asked De Jong to be more aggressive in defensive situations.

While the Dutch midfielder has impressed offensively and grown in stature in recent weeks, the coach believes he must be more decisive when defending, especially when playing alongside Pedri in a double pivot.

Flick wants De Jong to be more aggressive in defence. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The Netherlands international’s defensive shortcomings were evident in some of Atletico Madrid’s goals at Montjuic on Tuesday.

The Rojiblancos’ second goal stemmed from a Jules Kounde mistake, gifting the ball to Julian Alvarez, who launched the counterattack that Griezmann finished off. In that moment, De Jong had the opportunity to stop Alvarez with a tactical foul but hesitated.

The third goal further exposed this issue. Angel Correa reached the byline before crossing, and De Jong failed to close him down aggressively, instead trying to block the passing lane unsuccessfully.

For these reasons, Flick has urged De Jong to improve his defensive contributions, highlighting the importance of more physical and tactical discipline, especially in high-stakes matches like Tuesday’s Copa del Rey clash.

The Barcelona captain has once again become a regular starter after struggling for minutes following his return from injury. But he will need to improve the defensive side of his game to hold down his place in the side, with Marc Casado waiting on the sidelines for his chance.