Leganés may have fallen to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Barcelona on Saturday night, but their head coach Borja Jiménez firmly believes the better team didn’t win.

In a bold post-match statement that has sparked plenty of conversation among fans and pundits alike, Jiménez claimed:
“Yes, I’ve said it before on TV—we were better than Barça. We had better scoring chances and greatly minimised what is arguably the best team in Europe.”

It’s a strong statement, especially considering Barcelona’s current form and standing in Europe under Hansi Flick. But to be fair to Leganés, they did put in a resolute performance that limited Barcelona’s usually free-flowing attack.

Jiménez went on to reflect on the tactical adjustments his side made for the game:
“Unlike the first leg, when we started with a five-man defence, today we wanted to make that line more flexible, allowing us to give the team more space.”

That tweak clearly helped Leganés stay compact but more fluid in transition, something that disrupted Barcelona’s rhythm for large spells of the game. Despite the defeat, Leganés made life difficult for a Barça side packed with stars.

Jiménez also acknowledged the changes Barça made to adapt to the challenge:
“They’ve also changed. We were clear that Araujo should start the game. In De Jong, they’ve brought in a player who can drive things well. The lads have done a lot of work.”

Frenkie de Jong’s return was a notable factor for Barcelona, helping them gain control in midfield, but the Leganés players worked tirelessly to close down space and deny Barça the time they usually thrive on.

While the result ultimately favoured the Catalan giants, this wasn’t a walk in the park for Hansi Flick’s side. It was a reminder that even the best teams in Europe need to grind out results against opponents who are organised, disciplined, and fearless in their approach.