Barcelona coach Hansi Flick spoke to the press after his side’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle in their Champions League opener. The German coach praised Marcus Rashford and Joan Garcia after their stellar performances at St James Park.
Speaking after the match, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick explained that the ‘Cules’ needed to bring in a player like Marcus Rashford, who scored twice in the 2-1 win against Newcastle on the opening day of the Champions League, this summer to ensure every position is covered by “quality players”. “Marcus has taken the first step: scoring two goals at home, in a stadium like this, wearing the Barca shirt. He’s taken an important step in showing he’s a fantastic player, but now he needs to take the second step,” the manager said in the press room at St. James’ Park.
On the English forward, who started due to Lamine Yamal’s injury, Flick said that “it’s important he gains confidence” and admitted he wasn’t “surprised” by his performance, as he “already shows this in training”. The German coach noted that Rashford, the star of the match and the press conference, “tried a lot and had good chances” in the first half, but “the finishing wasn’t good”. “For a striker, it’s always good to score goals. I’m happy for him. He’s an important player,” he added.
“As soon as the opportunity arose, I spoke to him and told him I wanted him in the team. I’m happy because I think he’s world-class, and the team is taking good care of him. He has strength, speed, control, and finishing, and I think he can make even more of it,” he added. On the match, Flick said that “it was vital to keep a clean sheet in the first 15 minutes” and highlighted that, despite Barça being “a young team”, they knew how to “defend very well” in a demanding environment.
“Newcastle started with very intense pressure, one-on-one, and we held out very well. After those first 15 minutes, we had 64% possession in the first half. Perhaps we made too many mistakes, but I’m very happy. It was important to start with three points, and we saw a great performance from the team,” the German manager summarised.
Flick praised the performance of goalkeeper Joan Garcia, saying that “he’s doing fantastically well”. “He’s very quick and has saved some dangerous chances. With his footwork, he gives us an extra player when playing the ball out from the back, which is very important in Barça’s philosophy,” he reflected. He also highlighted the role of Pedro Gonzslez ‘Pedri’ and Frenkie de Jong in keeping possession in the final minutes. “They both had a very good game. I’m happy they’re playing with that confidence. It’s not easy to put us under pressure,” he concluded.
