Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has admitted that his players lacked physical freshness during their 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, insisting that the team must recover quickly and improve before the international break.

According to a report by Barca Universal on Monday, 26 October 2026, the German coach acknowledged that fatigue, injuries and a demanding schedule have affected Barcelona’s performances following their first La Liga defeat of the season.

The loss at home was Barcelona’s second defeat in the same week and ended their 10-match unbeaten run in the league.

Flick accepted that Real Madrid performed better than in previous meetings between the rivals but insisted his players must respond rather than dwell on the setback.

“We weren’t fresh. We have to recover, concentrate, and react,” Flick said.

The Barcelona boss explained that his side had improved after the break and managed to equalise, but their attacking approach left them vulnerable to Madrid’s decisive counter-attack.

Flick admitted that his players were not operating at their usual physical level and stressed the importance of regaining their energy ahead of the next fixture.

He also refused to use the team’s schedule as an excuse, despite Barcelona travelling to Seville and several players preparing to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.

“We’ve had two defeats this week and that’s too many for me, and, no doubt, for the Barça fans as well. But this is part of the sport and we have to bounce back,” he added.

Barcelona now have a week to prepare for their next match, with Flick targeting victories in both remaining fixtures before the international break.

However, the manager also faces concerns over his defensive options after Espart, Dani Olmo and Eric Garcia reportedly picked up injuries. The situation could force him to turn to Barcelona’s academy for reinforcements.

“We may have to call up more players from La Masia. We’ll sort it out. We’re expecting Christensen and Eric back soon,” Flick explained.

The coach also defended his decision to introduce Frenkie de Jong during the Clasico, noting that the midfielder had impressed in training and could provide the team with additional energy.