Flick Defends Araújo After Champions League Exit: “We All Made Mistakes”

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick defended Ronald Araújo after their Champions League semi-final loss to Inter Milan, saying the whole team must take responsibility.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Flick spoke up in support of Araújo, who faced a lot of criticism after Barcelona‘s loss to Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final. He said blaming Araújo alone is not fair, as everyone made mistakes. “We’ve spoken to Ronald Araújo. We all made mistakes in Milan… We all fail at some point, no matter the profession,” Flick mentioned during Wednesday’s press conference.

Araújo became a target on social media after his defensive mistakes in the must-win match against Inter. The criticism was so heavy that he had to respond to the online abuse he faced after the game.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Araújo opened up earlier this week about his failures in that game. His future at Barcelona is now uncertain due to this controversy. Reports suggest Bayern Munich and Manchester United are both interested in the 25-year-old, with Manchester United supposedly making an €80 million offer to lure him away from Barcelona. Meanwhile, Barcelona are second in La Liga, trailing four points behind leaders Real Madrid with three matches left to play. Despite their Champions League disappointment, Flick’s side has exceeded expectations in his first season, especially given the club’s financial issues.

WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

Barcelona must regroup quickly as they host Valencia at the Camp Nou this Sunday in La Liga. With their Champions League hopes gone, finishing second in the domestic league is now the priority for Flick’s players. To accomplish that goal, Barcelona must address Araújo’s future soon. With the club lowering their asking price for the defender amid recent struggles, the summer transfer window might be critical for Barcelona’s project under Flick. While Flick has publicly backed Araújo, the club’s financial restrictions may force them to consider a tempting offer from either Bayern Munich or Manchester United for the defender.