Barcelona manager Hansi Flick explains mistakes made in draw and Brest threats – 'It's a young team'
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick he explained that his team will learn to manage the games better than they did in their past two matches against Real Sociedade and Celta Vigo, where they managed only one point. Flick noted that was part of the process of having a young team.
A response from the German coach will be awaited in the Champions League when the Blaugrana face Brest at 21:00 CEST on Tuesday night. The French side is unbeaten in Europe so far, and 10 points from 12 possible, and is one ahead of Barcelona.
“They are a strong team, and they are good at set pieces. They also play well on the contrary. We have to be strong in those areas, and we have to be good in possession and control the game.
Speaking before Flick, Inigo Martinez had admitted that there was frustration in the locker room after their draw with Celta, and Flick was asked what exactly he wanted his team to correct.
“We have a young team, the youngest in the league I think, and it is not always a smooth road. You have to be careful in certain situations during the 90 minutes. With 0-2 in our favor and with the red card, we must have defended better than us. We always want to play and attack, but sometimes we just have to control the ball and defend well. We don't always have to go that fast.”
“In the league there are very tough away games, and also in the Champions League, the fans are amazing, I like the fans outside because they create a very good atmosphere. On Saturday the wind was not so easy either, it is not sorry, but we have to deal with it.
He was also asked if the loss of his lead could cause doubts in the minds of his side.
“I always think positive, that's what I said. It's a young team and during the season it's normal to have some situations like this. For me, the important thing is to learn from him. The quality of the players is very high and it's really amazing to see what they can do in training, we have to show it on the field, and we want to start showing it tomorrow, but the process of this very young team is part of football. We are still at the top of the League, although with one more advantage small, but every team wanted to trade with us.”
Íñigo: “The pressing starts with the players in front, and if it is not good, we at the back suffer. We all attack and defend together. Apart from these last two games, the work of the team has been brilliant. This is the way we need to continue.”
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) November 25, 2024
Flick was anxious for his side to exert more control over the games, after saying his side did not play well from start to finish on Saturday night.
“When we win the ball sometimes, it's better to control it and sometimes we just want to score the next goal and it's not possible, especially away from home, and we have to learn that, come back and start again, that's what we have to do. “
Inigo Martinez said that the high defensive line was sometimes beaten by a lack of pressure in front before Flick spoke to the press, something that was put to Flick.
“You have to be well connected, the whole team, in defense and in attack, when we attack, it starts from the defense and it is good to be connected. We need to put pressure on the ball when they build from the back and if don't do that, the rivals at this level know how to overcome.
Flick's side have been praised for their high offside line, and their bold approach at the start of this season, which has also paid off big time. However, they were undone by a mental mistake by Jules Kounde on Saturday, and then by a loss of the ball in their own half. However, Barcelona were under heavy attack at times from Celta's front line.
