Hansi Flick highlights the Barcelona star's 'incredible' performances during pre-season
On Thursday, Hansi Flick was presented to the media for the first time as Barcelona manager. The former manager of Bayern Munich and Germany has been in the position for almost two months, but it was the first opportunity for him to speak in front of the Catalan and Spanish press.
Image: Flick and Laporta during the presentation. pic.twitter.com/ynvYXY1lhU
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Ace for MDFlick spoke as he was offered the manager's job by Joan Laporta, who was sitting to his right as he spoke.
“I want to say that I am very happy. From the first minute, before signing my contract, we had dinner and the president gave me a letter translated into German in which there was something written that made me feel from the first moment that is an incredible club, very big, and everyone has that respect.
“I am very happy with the first weeks. We have many players from La Masia, and I am very grateful for the work done at La Masia with these players. It is very good, we have a great time and the first thing I saw was the quality and the 'intensity. We work very hard in training, we have wonderful young players who want to give 100%.
“I can hear from the board, the staff, the coaches… The technical team is new and the club has made great efforts to bring them. You have to create this atmosphere for the players, to be able to develop and take them to a stage higher in his career. And that's what I'm going to focus on.”
Flick also spoke specifically about Ansu Fati, who had a very bright start to pre-season before suffering a foot injury earlier this week.
“Ansu in the first days of (pre-season) was amazing. He was very fit and he showed it in training. It's a shame not to have him here or in the United States. We will help him come back stronger.”
It is clear that Flick is ready to count of Barcelona younger players for the coming season, as Xavi Hernandez did during his last campaign in charge. Given the quality at La Masia, as well as the club's precarious financial situation, it makes complete sense.
