Barcelona boss Hansi Flick was an extremely proud figure, praising his players’ display as they secured a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Benfica on Wednesday, after playing most of their Champions League last-16 first leg tie with 10 men.
After a red card to Pau Cubarsi early on in the contest, Raphinha’s second half winner put smiles on the Catalan faithful, especially manager Flick who was delighted with his players’ maturity and defensive focus.
“It is a great victory,” Flick said to Spanish TV station Movistar Plus.
“We are thrilled not only with the win but also with how we managed to achieve it. We defended very well, defended as a team, that’s the most important thing for us. The collective effort from everyone.
“We managed the game well despite going a man down early in the first half and the response was fantastic, it wasn’t easy, but we still have to play the second leg. Benfica are a good team and we have to keep an eye on them.”
Flick admitted he understood his teenage defender Cubarsi, saying that the last-man foul that earned him a straight red was part of the game.
“[The red card] is one of those plays that happen in football, and it happened to us today. We all make mistakes. The most important thing is how we responded, and the reaction was great,” Flick said.
Flick also showered praise on Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, after the coach convinced him to come out of retirement and play for Barca after Germany international Marc-Andre ter Stegen sustained a torn knee ligament in September.
“Szczesny was fantastic. It’s clear that he is different now than he was when he arrived, every game he is more confident and we are defending better because of that. I’ve always known he could play at this level because I see him every day in training. It’s great for us.”
