Flick hails Barcelona's big win, eases concerns over Gavi injury
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised his team's 5-0 victory over Elche and said Gavi's knee injury appears less serious than initially feared.
Key Takeaways
AIGerman coach Hansi Flick, manager of Barcelona, expressed his satisfaction after his team’s emphatic 5-0 away win over Elche in their opening La Liga match.
Flick praised both the defensive solidity and attacking performance of his players, stating: "We defended very well, and scoring five goals is fantastic." However, he also noted that Barcelona lost possession at times in the first half and lacked some control over the game’s tempo.
Regarding midfielder Gavi’s injury, Flick said the initial signs are relatively positive, explaining: "We have to wait and see. It’s a knee issue, but we believe it’s less serious than we first feared." The club is awaiting medical test results to determine the exact nature of the injury and whether Gavi will require additional rest.
On the subject of the center-forward position, Flick indicated that a decision will be made this week, adding: "I’m happy with the result, and we’ll see."
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Praise for players and La Masia academy
Flick also commended the team’s daily work in training, emphasizing that he sees "a lot of quality" among the players and that real progress is shown during matches. He singled out La Masia academy talent Espart, highlighting his ability to play both the number 6 and 8 roles, and described the academy’s work as "outstanding."
The German coach also described Brazilian winger Raphinha as a role model for his teammates, praising his relentless pressing and high energy, and stressing that Raphinha leads the press himself and sets an example for the team.