Barcelona lost the top spot in La Liga and jeopardized its chances of reaching the Copa del Rey final within just five days, after two disappointing losses to Girona and Atletico Madrid. This came at a time when anger was escalating within the team due to refereeing errors, highlighting the urgent need for a technical review.

According to the Spanish newspaper 'Sport', there was a state of severe discontent among Barcelona players and the technical staff following the loss at Montilivi, due to what they considered errors by referee Soto Grado and the VAR room.

The newspaper pointed out that the protest letter issued last weekend did not have the desired effect, but self-criticism has become necessary, as refereeing mistakes can only be compensated with good football and high concentration, which the team lacked against Girona and Atletico.

The newspaper identified five main problems that appeared against Girona, which coach Hans Flick must address quickly, even though the season remains positive after winning the Super Cup and qualifying for the Champions League round of 16, with the opportunity still available to correct the course in La Liga and the cup.

The first of these problems was the weakness in defensive performance both individually and collectively. Aside from the refereeing controversy over the second goal, the team showed clear gaps, whether in losing the ball without finishing attacks, which facilitated counterattacks, or in the lack of harmony when pressing after losing the ball, in addition to errors in applying the offside trap and the ease of penetrating the backline.

The second problem was the absence of offensive decisiveness. Despite numerous attempts, the superiority was not translated into goals, as Lamine Yamal's penalty hit the post, Raphinha's attempt hit the woodwork, and only Pau Cubarsi scored, despite multiple shots on Girona's goal.

The third point was the lack of mental continuity, as the team conceded the equalizing goal just two minutes after taking the lead, a scenario that has repeated this season, reflecting the difficulty of maintaining focus after scoring.

The newspaper also highlighted the lack of control over the game's rhythm, with the clear impact of Pedri's absence, who is a key element in adjusting the match's pace and determining when to speed up or slow down the play, compared to the roles of other midfield players.

Finally, the decline in individual impact, as the attackers failed to make a difference despite the team having several stars, while the standout individual performance was by goalkeeper Juan Garcia, who made several saves, but they were not enough to avoid the loss.

According to the report, addressing these aspects is a top priority for Flick if Barcelona wants to regain balance and compete strongly for the league and cup titles in the upcoming stage.