Barcelona’s dramatic Champions League exit at the hands of Inter has left fans heartbroken and critics fired up. But few have been as scathing as former Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello, who didn’t hold back in his assessment of Hansi Flick’s tactical approach during the semi-final second leg at Camp Nou.

Leading 3-2 on the night and edging closer to the final, Barça appeared to have done enough to see off the Italian giants. But a stoppage-time goal from Francesco Acerbi changed everything – drawing Inter level and sending them through on away goals. It was a brutal blow, one that Capello believes was self-inflicted.

“Flick was too arrogant — he stuck with man-to-man marking even when the situation called for more caution,” Capello told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “It was a tactical error that cost Barcelona dearly.”

Capello specifically praised Inter manager Simone Inzaghi for his game management and awareness in the dying minutes. “Simone Inzaghi made the right moves and took advantage of the key moments,” he added, contrasting Flick’s stubbornness with Inzaghi’s adaptability.

The Italian tactician, known for his success with Milan, Roma and Juventus, clearly sees Flick’s rigid adherence to a man-to-man defensive structure as the fatal flaw. In a high-stakes European semi-final, Capello expected more flexibility from the German. Instead, Barça paid the price for failing to shut down the game intelligently.

Capello also had words of praise for PSG manager Luis Enrique – a coach close to Barça hearts – further twisting the knife.

“Luis Enrique is an extremely well-prepared coach,” Capello said. “He’s built the team around his footballing philosophy and given them real structure.”

Luis Enrique’s PSG will now face Inter in the Champions League Final on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich. For Barça fans, it’s a painful reminder of what could have been.