Hansi Flick sends a warning to his players despite the victory against Espanyol

Hansi Flick addressed the media following FC Barcelona’s convincing 3-1 win over Espanyol in the Catalan derby. While he expressed overall satisfaction with the result, he highlighted concerns about his team’s performance in the second half.

“Derbies are always challenging; we played well in the first half, but overall, we didn’t perform to our usual standard, losing too many balls, which hurt us after halftime,” he stated. Flick also issued a stern warning to his players in preparation for their upcoming match against Red Star.

Hansi Flick discussed the team’s performance after their 3-1 win over Espanyol, acknowledging a slight dip in concentration but stressing the need for greater focus ahead of their Wednesday match.

He praised the team’s first-half concentration, particularly noting the contributions from younger players, but admitted that their second-half performance was below par. “We lost too many balls, which affected us,” he said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining intensity.

Regarding midfield competition with the return of injured players, Flick referred to it as a “blessed problem.” He expressed happiness about having more options available but cautioned about managing players like Gavi, Frenkie, Fermín, and Dani, the latter of whom he praised for scoring twice.

Flick explained his decision to keep Lewandowski and Lamine on the field for the full match while substituting Raphinha late, stating that he wanted to limit changes in the second half to maintain team focus.

On Koundé’s substitution, he simply said it was his choice, while he addressed Ferran Torres’ absence due to a personal tragedy, emphasizing that such matters are more important than football.

He also celebrated Dani Olmo’s two goals, noting that while he isn’t fully fit yet, his contributions were crucial. Flick clarified that Olmo’s substitution was precautionary, as they are careful with players returning from injury.

Lastly, Flick expressed confidence in his team, stating, “I don’t suffer but I’m aware of everything. I have great faith in the squad, and the fans are pleased with how we’re playing.”