Flick: 'We will defend better next season'

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick pledged to work on his team's defense next season, after his side edged Real Madrid 4-3 in a thrilling La Liga "Clasico" on Sunday to put the Catalans within touching distance of the title.

Barca moved to the brink of La Liga glory with its victory at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, opening a seven-point gap on second-placed Madrid with three matches remaining.

In the final stages Madrid spurned several good chances to equalize, while last week Inter Milan knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League semifinals in a 4-3 win as the Catalans' defense crumbled.

"It's not been easy for us to work on some things in training. I know that we have to improve (defensively) and we will do it next season," Flick told reporters.

Barcelona played with a high defensive line and Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick and two disallowed goals, and Vinicius Junior breached it several times.

At the other end, his team's talented attacking stars have put 16 goals past Real Madrid in four meetings this season, Barca triumphing every time.

The Catalans were ousted by Inter 7-6 on aggregate, and have arguably been the most entertaining side in Europe this season.

"For me, it's not always fun, sometimes I really suffer a lot," admitted Flick.

"I'm really happy with what we are doing (in general), and, of course, football is a game of making mistakes.

"Hopefully, we can make things better and make fewer mistakes."

Flick said he did not blame his defenders for the team's struggles to keep goals out, and that it was more of a systematic issue.

"I think this journey that we started last year, it's not over — I know that we have to improve a lot in defense," added the coach.

"It has nothing to do with the back four. When we make mistakes, Real have fantastic offensive players."

Barcelona can clinch the title with a win at local rival Espanyol on Thursday, or even earlier if Madrid loses against Real Mallorca on Wednesday.

"It's football, you don't know what will happen, but we're in a good position and we need three more points," said Flick.

"This is what we want to do as soon as possible, but every match will be tough, every opponent wants to win against us.

"But, we have the quality, and when we play like today, I think we can get there."

Flick also had high praise for 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who was a constant threat on the right and scored a stunning equalizer in the first half.

"He is doing great. He has confidence in himself. He's also very clever," Flick said of Yamal.

"For me, what's important is that after the games, he looks forward. His goal was crucial, and, at 17 years old, he has so many qualities. It's just great to have him around," Flick concluded.

Barcelona battled back to claim a fourth Clasico victory from four meetings this season, showing its dominance over Carlo Ancelotti's side.

"We've opened up an important gap, it was key to win this game after the Champions League (defeat)," Yamal told Movistar.

"The fans have forgotten it, and so have we, let's enjoy this.

"It was important to win today to bring the league title closer, and it went very well, we're very happy."

Agencies