MADRID, Feb 13, (V7N): FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said his side failed to play as a team and were “taught a lesson” in the first half of their 4-0 Copa del Rey semi-final first leg defeat against Atletico Madrid on Thursday.

The holders and La Liga leaders were dismantled at the Metropolitano stadium as Diego Simeone’s Atletico struck four times before the break to seize firm control of the tie.

“We didn't play well in the first half as a team, we didn't play like a team,” Flick told reporters.

“The distance between everyone was too long and we didn't press how we wanted.”

The German coach said the heavy first-half setback could serve as a valuable wake-up call later in the season.

“In the first 45 minutes we were handed a big lesson. Sometimes it's good to get that in the right moment, maybe today is the right moment,” he said.

“The second half was much better and we have one game more and we will fight to win that.”

Barcelona thought they had pulled a goal back in the second half through Pau Cubarsi, but it was controversially ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR review. Spectators in the stadium and television viewers were left unclear about the exact decision.

“It’s a mess, it’s a mess like that, and then they have to wait I don’t know how many minutes, was it seven minutes? Oh come on,” Flick complained.

“They found something in the seven minutes? Okay. For me, when I saw this situation it was clear there was no offside, but at the end maybe they could see something different, but tell us.

“There was no communication and this is so bad here.”

END/WSP/RH