Hans Flick, the head coach of Barcelona, expressed his concern about the performance of his players at the start of the season, confirming that the team lacked the collective spirit that was the secret to its success last season, as some players leaned towards individual play.

According to journalist Helena Condes, what Flick stated in the press conference after the match against Rayo Vallecano had also been raised in the locker room, as the team closed itself off for 20 minutes after the match to discuss the situation.

Condes pointed out that Flick always precedes his media statements by discussing the matter with the players, as he is keen to deliver his warning messages within the team before presenting them to the media.

Barcelona had drawn against Vallecano 1-1 in the third round of the Spanish league.