The German tactician pointed to inadequate physical preparation, accumulated fatigue and defensive lapses as major factors that contributed to Barcelona’s disappointing result.

Flick admitted that his players were not at their best physically during the encounter, highlighting the demanding fixture schedule over the previous two weeks as a significant challenge for the squad.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, the Barcelona boss explained that the congested schedule had placed considerable demands on his players.

Although he stopped short of using fatigue as an excuse, he acknowledged that a lack of energy could lead to costly mistakes in both defence and attack.

The manager also revealed that travel and logistical difficulties following severe weather conditions had disrupted the team’s recovery plans.

Barcelona were forced to spend an additional night in Seville the previous Saturday, a situation that may have affected their preparation for the clash against the reigning European champions.

Flick further admitted that his team made too many errors, particularly in the second half, when their performance deteriorated.

He said, “We have committed too many mistakes in this game, especially in possession and with easy losses of the ball.

“We have to learn from this match. You don’t win titles in October. The Champions League is won in June.

“They have a lot of quality in transition. We tried to defend against them, and we did it well, but in those last 15 minutes we weren’t fresh.

“We didn’t have the best preparation for this game. We have to analyse it and do things better.”