Former Barcelona defender identifies key weakness Flick must fix to win the Champions League: ‘I hope I’m wrong, but…’

Former Barcelona defender identifies key weakness Flick must fix to win the Champions League: ‘I hope I’m wrong, but…’ Barcelona have made an impressive start to the season under Hansi Flick , winning their first 10 competitive matches, but former defender Abelardo Fernandez believes the team still needs one important addition to compete for the Champions League with greater confidence. Speaking on Onda Cero’s Radioestadio programme , the former Spain international praised Barcelona’s form while questioning whether their current defensive options are strong enough to withstand the demands of Europe’s biggest competition. Abelardo’s assessment comes as Flick’s side continue to impress with their attacking football, although concerns remain over whether they have the defensive depth required to go all the way. Abelardo identifies Barcelona’s biggest weakness Abelardo believes Barcelona need a reliable, top-class centre-back if they are to challenge Europe’s strongest teams consistently.  While he acknowledged that Flick’s side has the quality to win the trophy, he warned that defensive shortcomings could become decisive in the knockout rounds. “I hope I’m wrong, but to win the Champions League I think FC Barcelona are missing something in defence – a reliable centre-back,” he began saying. The former Barcelona defender expanded on his concerns, arguing that the squad still lacks the defensive quality needed to compete with the continent’s elite. Barcelona have not kept a clean sheet in Europe since 2025. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images) “I think there’s still a shortfall in defence – in my opinion, a lack of top-class players – to be able to challenge for the Champions League.  “They can win it, but I think they’re still missing something,” he insisted. In all fairness, the former defender, who won two La Liga titles with the Blaugrana, is not wrong, as Barcelona are severely short in centre-back positions, so much so that Flick has tried Frenkie de Jong there in training . Barcelona must win defensive duels against Europe’s best Abelardo also stressed that Champions League success often depends on how well a team handles decisive one-on-one battles against elite forwards. “Ultimately, they’ll have to win defensive duels against players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia or Harry Kane,” he warned. The point is particularly relevant to Barcelona’s high defensive line, which allows Flick’s team to press aggressively but can leave space behind the centre-backs.  Lamine Yamal has received high praise from the former defender. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images) Against forwards capable of exploiting those gaps, defensive positioning and individual duels can prove crucial. Barcelona’s strong start has demonstrated their attacking potential, but the former defender believes their ability to manage these situations will help determine whether they can turn early-season momentum into European silverware. Lamine Yamal could make Barcelona unstoppable Despite his reservations about the defence, Abelardo was full of praise for Barcelona’s attacking quality, singling out Lamine Yamal as a player capable of taking the team to another level. “If Lamine Yamal plays at that level, Barça will be unstoppable,” he stated. The former defender also delivered a glowing overall assessment of Flick’s side after their winning start to the campaign. “I think they’re in incredible form. They’re the best team in Europe,” he concluded.