Barcelona president Joan Laporta has delivered his verdict on the team’s recent underwhelming form and sent out a strong message ahead of a clash with Atletico next time out.
Hansi Flick’s side were beaten again last time out, [going down to a shock defeat to Leganes](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2024/12/15/24320180/barcelona-leganes-la-liga-final-score-match-report-recap-reactions), and have seen their early lead in La Liga effectively wiped out.
Laporta says that things could be better but has urged the team, and the club’s fans, to give their all to see off Atletico on Saturday at Montjuic.
> “We are working hard on the sporting side. In football we could be better, but I don’t like to look back. We are first now and I see the glass half full. I would like to be seven points ahead, but we have lost our way and have lost points that were not ours, but for me that is in the past,” he said.
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> “We have to prepare the team so that each game is like a Champions League game. The next game against Atlético is very important and I would take advantage of it to appeal to the fans to cheer more than ever. The team needs the support of the public.”
Victory over Atletico would get Barca back on track in La Liga and provide a good end to the year. The teams head into the game level on points, although Diego Simeone’s side do have a game in hand on Barca.