Flick Focuses on Team Confidence Amidst Criticism Following Barcelona’s Victory

Hansi Flick expressed his intention to disregard external criticisms from pundits and former players following Robert Lewandowski’s impressive hat trick, which propelled Barcelona to a 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo. This win places Barcelona just three points behind LaLiga leaders Real Madrid.

Prior to their match at Balaídos, Barcelona had secured only three wins from their last seven games, including a disappointing 3-3 draw against Club Brugge midweek, which intensified scrutiny over Flick’s choice to employ a high defensive line.

The high line was tested twice in an exhilarating first half, where Celta Vigo managed to equalize twice after Lewandowski’s initial goals—one from a penalty and another from a close-range finish following a Marcus Rashford cross. However, after halftime, Barcelona displayed a more controlled performance, securing a crucial win before the international break.

During the post-match news conference, Flick addressed the criticism with a smile, stating, “I always think to say something about the experts, former players, and coaches, but no, I will not do it. I’ll give you too many things to speak about, and it’s too much noise!” He emphasized the need to analyze the match thoroughly to improve performance while highlighting the importance of confidence among his players. “For me, the most important thing is that the players have the confidence and belief in what we’re doing, and the second half is a good example of how we want to execute our game plan.”

The first half mirrored Barcelona’s previous match in Belgium, with Celta effectively capitalizing on defensive errors. Lamine Yamal managed to restore Barcelona’s lead just before halftime, and Lewandowski completed his hat trick with a header from another Rashford assist in the second half.

“Yes, I am satisfied,” Flick acknowledged. “I appreciate a lot of what I saw today. In the first half, we made mistakes that they exploited for their goals, but we controlled the game well. The second half presented a much better defensive display, which gives us confidence for upcoming matches.”

Following the win, Barcelona sits just three points behind Real Madrid, who were held to a goalless draw by Rayo Vallecano earlier that day, providing additional motivation for the team. Lewandowski commented, “It was one of the craziest games of this season, especially in the first half. We scored three and conceded two, but I am very happy because we won a very difficult game. Winning today was crucial to closing the gap on Real Madrid.”

Despite facing injuries earlier in the season, Lewandowski has now scored seven goals in just 449 minutes of LaLiga action. “Of course, I am very happy, not only with my goals but with how we played as a team today. This type of game is essential for our title race.”

The victory, however, was slightly overshadowed by Frenkie de Jong receiving a red card for a second booking, which will see him miss the match against Athletic Club after the international break. Additionally, concerns surround Pedri’s fitness for that game due to an injury, while Marc Casadó was withdrawn from the lineup shortly before kickoff after sustaining a knock during warm-ups, necessitating further assessments on Monday.