FC Barcelona thrashed Athletic Club (4-0) in their return to the Spotify Camp Nou. In his 76th match on the Barça bench, the German coach was able to debut with a victory in the revamped culé temple, following a solid performance from his players.
In the post-match press conference, the Heidelberg native stated he felt happy because Barça was able to control the entire match and score goals at ideal moments (at the beginning and end of each half). Furthermore, he did not hide his emotion at being able to manage from the Estadi's bench
"I was here when I was fired from a Third Division team (Hoffenheim), and I said I would like to be on this bench. It's a dream come true," the manager began. In that regard, he added:
"When you work hard and believe in what you do, anything is possible. We have incredible fans, a fantastic club, and we are back home"
Balde caused alarm before halftime
On the other hand, Flick reassured about the physical condition of Alejandro Balde. The full-back was replaced at halftime after suffering a possible injury when contesting a ball in the 33rd minute, but it all turned out to be a scare. "Balde is fine, but we had to take care of him," argued the manager.He also praised Eric García's work in midfield, as well as Gerard Martín's performance in the center of defense during the first half. Both were instrumental in Barça's first goal (scored by Robert Lewandowski) and, in the case of the '24', he also assisted Fermín López in the second half
"For a coach, it's great to have a player like Eric, who can play multiple positions at a high level. I'm delighted with his level of play. Gerard had a great game at center-back, Ronald (Araujo) was coming off a long trip," he argued.
"I feel very, very optimistic. I trust and believe in the team. I believe we have a very high-quality squad. We never complain about not having a player; we manage all situations"
Praise for Lewandowski and defensive solidity
Hansi Flick, in turn, praised Lewandowski's goal-scoring contribution. The Pole has already scored 8 goals in 25/26 and was responsible for opening the scoring. "He is a very important player. One of those who, when he has an opportunity, almost always scores. It was important to score very early, because that gives us more confidence.
"Finally, the Barça coach acknowledged that, while it was important to have kept a clean sheet after 10 consecutive games conceding, the key was to win and keep accumulating points in the League. "I **am very happy to have played at this level and scored four goals**. It has been fantastic for everyone."
"It was very important not to concede goals, but the most important thing is to win matches. This is the way to play"