FC Barcelona have secured a convincing 4-1 victory over local rivals RCD Espanyol in La Liga, but the match has been marred by controversy over the players' behaviour after the final whistle.
After the end of the Catalan derby, tensions rose between the two teams, with Espanyol players expressing dissatisfaction with the attitude of Barcelona players on and off the field.
Among those who reacted harshly was midfielder Paul Lozano, who openly criticized the league champions' behavior, suggesting a lack of sporting respect during and after the match.
In his statement to DAZN, Lozano expressed his frustration: "It's not worth talking about it, it's always the same story. Everyone saw the level of respect they showed towards other professionals. I have nothing to add."
Later, he tried to soften his tone, explaining that the incidents on the pitch were part of the excitement of the derby and the pressure of a heavy defeat.
Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick preferred to focus on European objectives, as the team prepares for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Atlético Madrid, where they must overturn a 2-0 deficit.
Flick stated that Barcelona do not need a "miracle", but a perfect performance to pull off the upset at the Estadio Metropolitano.
Midfielder Fermín López is also optimistic about this challenge, stressing that the team strongly believes in the turnaround: "The fans are with us, they believe. We hope to achieve this turnaround." /GazetaExpress/
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