Barcelona’s match against Celta Vigo was highly tense. Barça couldn’t afford to lose this opportunity to maintain their gap with Real Madrid, and things didn’t go well. As a result, anxiety was palpable on the pitch. The tension escalated to the point where three players openly reacted to the coach’s decisions, an unprecedented event this season.

Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati, and Hector Fort publicly expressed their dissatisfaction with being benched or substituted, making dressing room management even more difficult in this critical phase of the season. Barcelona players are highly motivated. Everyone wants to play, but Flick has a clear idea of his starting lineup and rotation system, leaving a group of five or six players effectively sidelined.

Two of them got into a verbal altercation after the match against Celta Vigo. Ansu Fati, after warming up throughout the second half without getting a chance to play, angrily kicked the ice cooler near the pitch and threw his training vest in front of the coaching staff.

The relationship between Ansu and Flick is very strained. The reason is that the player’s entourage believes the coach hasn’t treated him fairly. They’ve felt deceived since the start of the season and don’t understand why Flick questioned his efforts in training in the media. Anger has peaked in this case, as Ansu considers himself in ideal physical condition and believes the coach isn’t giving him a chance.

Tensions will undoubtedly erupt at the end of the season during potential transfer negotiations, as things could get complicated. Overall, the issue can be managed, but Ansu might not be willing to compromise financially if he leaves, and the club isn’t inclined to back down either. His agent must handle this situation with utmost caution and diplomacy to avoid a full-blown conflict.

Hector Fort, who has barely played this season, was another surprising figure in this saga. Flick, elated after the victory, shook hands and celebrated with every player, but the young player refused to hug him. Even beyond that, he showed no interest in engaging with the coach, and Flick whispered something in his ear in response.

It appears that Flick or the coaching staff had promised Fort playing time before the match, but the unexpected complexity of the game changed their plans. However, it’s clear that Flick doesn’t count on him, which is why the club is looking to sign a right-back in the transfer market to replace Koundé, who has been a constant presence in all matches.

The last case involves Ferran Torres. The forward was furious after being substituted in the second half. This was despite him scoring in the match and being Barcelona’s most active forward. Unable to understand the coach’s decision, Ferran refused to shake Flick’s hand upon leaving the pitch, kicked a water bottle, and pushed away an assistant coach who tried to calm him down.

In the attacking line, it seems the dressing room hierarchy always takes precedence, with the main trio carrying significant weight. For this reason, whenever a player from outside this group gets a chance, their substitution seems inevitable, even if undeserved. In this case, Ferran’s anger subsided quickly after the team regained control, and now he could be a key player in the season’s finale if Lewandowski’s three-week injury absence is confirmed.

Flick’s dressing room faces challenges less than a month before a potential treble, and these tensions will undoubtedly intensify. However, the coach won’t change his plans and knows exactly who is in the starting lineup and who isn’t at this stage of the season. But managing this situation will undoubtedly be tough for him.