FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was not entirely inspired by his team’s 2-1 friendly win against Real Madrid at MetLife Stadium on Saturday and demanded more from the players.
MVP Pau Víctor, who scored a brace, and a key goal-scoring Alex Valle were the highlights as Barça made it two wins in two on the current preseason tour of the United States.
Despite picking up victories at the expense of the last two Champions League champions Manchester City and Los Blancos on American soil, Flick admitted that his team had “done well” but also had flaws to correct.
“In some situations we were too deep and didn’t put pressure on the opposing player who had the ball. That can’t be like that and that’s a problem,” said the German.
“You have to do it and insist for 90 minutes,” he demanded, faithful to the philosophy of his country’s fashionable coaches.
“We knew it was a Clasico even though it was a pre-season match. I told my players that we were looking to see an improvement on the pitch compared to what we presented against City and I think that’s how we did a wonderful job. “”, Flick previously noted.
As for the youngsters who make up the bulk of the visiting team, Flick said that “we have players who are 16, 17, 18 years old” and that it is “fantastic to have them here”.
Regarding Pau Víctor, who is emerging as a possible successor to Robert Lewandowski but who is also capable of playing on the wing, Flick is discreet and under pressure: “We’ll see what happens” with the former Girona player. The man’s chances of staying with the senior team and not returning to Barça Atletico’s reserve team for the next 2024/2025 season.
“Two games, 3 goals. Not at all. The door to the first team is still open,” Flick insisted.
To conclude the tour, Barça will now travel to Baltimore, where they will face AC Milan in the M
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