Barcelona faced a challenge after a 2-1 defeat to AS Monaco in their Champions League opener, yet its leadership remains steadfast. Following the match, Barcelona Director Elena Fort condemned the sight of a Nazi banner displayed by fans, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to fighting hate. Despite this setback, confidence in coach Hansi Flick remains strong as the team prepares for upcoming challenges. The focus is on maintaining positive momentum in La Liga while addressing necessary improvements for future European encounters.
Barcelona Director Condemns Nazi Banner at Monaco Game
Barcelona’s Institutional Vice-President Elena Fort expressed her outrage on Twitter after a Nazi banner was spotted during the Blaugrana’s Champions League match against AS Monaco on Thursday night.
After the match, a photo of fans welcoming the players showed a troubling banner in the Barcelona section with the phrase ‘Flick heil.’ While the German translation means ‘hail Flick,’ it echoes the notorious ‘Sieg heil’ or ‘Heil Hitler,’ phrases associated with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler during his regime, responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews. In Germany, using this salute and phrase can result in a prison sentence of up to three years.
Fort addressed the banner publicly on Twitter/X, though it remains uncertain if any action will follow.
“Despicable. Disgraceful. Disgusting and sad that someone who claims to love the Club acts like this. Everything has a limit. It can never be repeated again. Never again.”
According to Diario AS, this marks the second incident this year. French police previously arrested two fans in Paris for performing the Nazi salute during an away match against Paris Saint-Germain. Following their arrest, Barcelona also suspended the two individuals. The radical group’ Boixos Nois,’ known for its far-right connections and frequent display of Nazi memorabilia, was expelled from the stadium by Barcelona years ago. However, traces of the group still seem to linger.
Barcelona Remains Confident in Flick Despite Monaco’s Loss
Barcelona has had an outstanding start to the 2024/25 season, winning all five initial La Liga matches.
However, a 2-1 loss to AS Monaco in their Champions League opener momentarily lowered the spirits.
Despite this setback, confidence in Hansi Flick’s plan remains strong.
Barcelona Leadership Met After Monaco Defeat
Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco had a casual discussion with Flick at the team hotel shortly after the loss to Monaco.
All three concurred that the defeat was just a minor setback and did not diminish this season’s impressive performances.
The three calmly reviewed the match, pinpointing areas for enhancement while keeping a positive perspective. They acknowledged plenty of time and opportunity to bounce back in the Champions League.
Flick conveyed a message of confidence to the dressing room, commending the players’ attitude and encouraging them to concentrate on their strengths while learning from their mistakes.
His confidence in the team’s capacity to recover swiftly was evident, especially with a tough match against Villarreal at La Ceramica approaching.
Flick’s coaching staff quickly reviewed the Monaco match, using the flight back to assess where improvements are necessary.
Despite the defeat, the atmosphere at the club remains steady, with Flick determined to prevent similar mistakes, particularly in European matches.
As Barça gears up for their next challenge, the emphasis is on sustaining their strong performance in La Liga while addressing the necessary adjustments for upcoming Champions League matches.
There is optimism that Barcelona can recover from their UCL setback once key players like Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and Dani Olmo regain full fitness.
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