FC Barcelona continued their flawless start to the season by securing a 5-2 win over Real Betis at La Cartuja on Saturday.
It was an entertaining affair, where the Barcelona defence looked porous on multiple occasions. But their attackers made sure the club were able to outscore an in-form Betis side on the night.
Speaking to the media after the game, Hansi Flick addressed some of the key talking points of the game, including Lamine Yamal’s brilliance and the challenges that lie ahead.
Flick hails Yamal
The German was delighted with a hard-fought win against a dangerous opponent.
“It was a very intense match, but also a great match for everyone. It was fantastic,” he said (h/t Diario SPORT).
Inevitably, much of his praise was reserved for Lamine Yamal, whose opener set the tone.
Flick was full of praise for Yamal. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
“If you see the first goal he scored, it’s incredible. For me, he’s currently the best player in the world. I’m very happy with his performance; I love watching him play.”
Flick was equally impressed by the teenager’s maturity amid a packed schedule for club and country.
“He’s under a lot of pressure, but he’s 100% focused and committed. That’s how great players are made.”
Asked whether a controversial incident had prompted the winger’s substitution, Flick was clear it was purely tactical.
“Given the score, we had to change him. I told him I’m proud of what he did; he played a fantastic game.”
On the disallowed Betis goal and the sending-off, he chose not to wade in. “I haven’t seen the replays, so I can’t say anything,” he added.
Recovery the priority before PSG and the Clasico
With a trip to PSG and El Clasico fast approaching, Flick insisted the immediate focus is on freshening up his squad.
“The most important thing now is to recover. After that, we have to see how we manage playing time and we’ll choose the starting eleven,” he said.
There was a note of caution on the fitness front, with two defenders picking up issues.
“He thinks it’s just a knock, but we have to wait,” Flick said of Eric Garcia, before adding: “Gerard Martin also finished with some problems.”
Barcelona focused on winning titles
Despite Barcelona’s remarkable start, the German was quick to clarify that the club are not interested in form, but only titles.
“It’s nice, it’s good, but in the end we want to win titles and achieve important things. We’re not fighting for records, but for titles,” he said.
He was full of admiration for the collective spirit driving the team.
Flick is happy that the squad is engaged. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
“The mentality and the way we play together are fantastic. How we work with and without the ball is incredible. Great teams are the ones that play like this,” he said.
Flick also pointed to his side’s set-piece threat, with two goals from dead-ball situations, and gave Betis their due. “We worked a lot on this and I’m happy it paid off.”
“We saw a fantastic Betis, with a lot of speed and intensity. We expected this, but we also played at a high level and deserved to win.”
Finally, he praised the mood within the group and the importance of keeping his squad players engaged.
“It’s important to show them that they have a place, that they have the opportunity to play, and that they are important. We have a great atmosphere; it’s incredible.”
“The quality of training is very high, and this is crucial because you play how you train,” he concluded.