Comeback Maestros: Forging a resilient mentality

The season isn’t over, but at this stage it’s safe to say that Hansi Flick’s arrival at F.C. Barcelona has had an enormous impact on the players. Not just in terms of their performances or their improved physical condition, but also in how they approach games mentally.

Never give up. That seems to be well ingrained in their minds, after they stunned El Metropolitano on Sunday, with an unexpected comeback in a matter of 20 minutes. Unlike in recent seasons, when the team is on the ropes it doesn’t stop believing until the very end, and there’s no doubt that this mentality and confidence has been instilled by Flick himself. He hasn’t just revitalised the form of players that were under scrutiny like Raphinha, Marc Casadó, Robert Lewandowski and Iñigo Martínez, among others, but he’s also turned them into fierce competitors.

Yet, the match against Atlético wasn’t the only time this season they’ve shown this ability to turn the tables, or as we say in Spanish, “darle la vuelta a la tortilla” (literally, "flip the omelette").

Here are five other examples from this campaign.

Valencia 1 - 2 Barça

From the get go, in the first match of the season Barça had to overturn a 1-0, and it barely took them a few minutes. Hugo Duro scored in the 44th, but in the added time of the first half Lewandowski equalised, and he then converted a penalty on Raphinha shortly after beginning the second half.

Rayo 1 - 2 Barça

Two league matches later, and also away from home, Barça had a tough time at Vallecas, starting on the back foot after an early 9th minute goal by Unai López. Barça left it until late, but Pedri’s goal in the 60th minute opened the way. 10 minutes later Lewandowski scored, but the goal was ruled out due to a controversial challenge from Kounde on Pep Chavarria. Despite the cold shower, Barça never gave up and it was debutante Dani Olmo who hit the ground running by giving Barça the three points in the 82nd minute.

Madrid 2 - 5 Barça

Next on the list is the Spanish Supercup final against their archenemies. A quick Mbappé goal in the 5th minute from an in-form Real Madrid already had the team in a delicate position in Flick’s first final as Barça's manager. But far from feeling the pressure, the players pushed on and flipped things around: by half-time Barça were 4-1 up. Their resilience and mentality not only showed by achieving a comeback, but by holding off Madrid’s offensive prowess during more than 30 minutes after Szczesny was sent off.

Benfica 4 - 5 Barça

There was no way this epic game wasn’t coming up! Barça were 3-1 down at half-time, and it seemed like the Catalan club was heading for its second defeat in the UCL league phase, especially after Benfica made it 4-2 just minutes after Barça had managed to close the gap. However, the squad kept believing and pushing for something to happen, and boy did it happen… Raphinha’s winner in the 96th minute instantly placed this match among the greatest comebacks in Barça’s history, and potentially in football history.

Barça 4 - 4 Atleti

The last match on this list wasn’t rounded off perfectly, but it speaks volumes of Barça’s ability to never surrender. After just five minutes culers were down 0-2, with Julián Álvarez and Griezmann silencing the Estadi Lluís Companys. A horrible start to a Copa del Rey semi-final. But again, this didn’t unsettle the players, who could sense the disappointment among their supporters. Yet, Pedri, Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez turned the stadium from a hush to a frenzy in a matter of minutes and the team went into half-time leading 3-2. A memorable first-half which was then marred by Atleti’s two late goals.