‘Lesson that will serve me well’ – Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi says he’s learned from his red card against Atletico

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 08: Referee Istvan Kovacs shows a red card to Pau Cubarsi of FC Barcelona following a VAR review after a challenge on Giuliano Simeone of Atletico de Madrid (not pictured) during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and Club Atlético de Madrid at Camp Nou on April 08, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) | UEFA via Getty Images Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi has been talking about his red card against Atletico Madrid this season and says it’s an experience that he will learn from. Cubarsi saw red in the Champions League defeat to Diego Simeone’s side in April and was quick to take responsibility after the 2-0 first-leg defeat.

The defender admits he could have done better and will learn from the game. “There’s always a way to do better, even playing with an advanced defense, but these are things that happen and in milliseconds you have to decide what to do or not; it’s a lesson that will serve me well in the future,” he told Marca. “I’m 19 years old and I have a long way to go, but I need to keep accumulating experience and that will help me over time to try to take on a leadership role, because the defender, after the goalkeeper, sees the whole field and it’s important to improve in that area.

” Cubarsi was also asked about Alvaro Cortes, after Hansi Flick handed the defender a debut against Alaves , and had plenty of praise for his team-mate. “Cortés is a guy who’s a little older than me, he’s spectacular and he’s the captain of the reserve team. If he keeps up this intensity and character, he could do very well in the world of football,” he added.

Cortes will be hoping for more chances from Hansi Flick in the future and has already made it clear he’d love to stay at the club and following Cubarsi into the first team.