‘I want to congratulate him‘ — Hansi Flick praises Barcelona defender for showing character against Rayo Vallecano | OneFootball

Back in January, when it emerged that FC Barcelona had signed Joao Cancelo on loan from Al-Hilal for the rest of the season, no one knew what to expect. There was cautious optimism of what he could bring to the table but also what he couldn’t.

Three months in, however, it is safe to say that the loan spell has been a resounding success. With every passing game, Joao Cancelo keeps looking more and more like a player Hansi Flick truly trusts, and the coach made that clear after Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.

In a game that demanded patience and resilience, Flick singled out the Portuguese defender for the way he carried himself, especially after the break. As quoted by SPORT, here is what the German manager said:

That is the quote that stands out most from a Barcelona perspective. It was not just about quality on the ball, but about commitment, mentality and the kind of competitive edge coaches notice immediately. A manager like Hansi Flick values this more than anything else.

It also says something about where Cancelo stands in the squad right now. Barcelona were missing several defensive options, and Flick openly acknowledged those absences after the game, which makes his praise of the available defenders carry even more weight.

This is the encouraging part. Cancelo was not being praised for a flashy moment or one attacking action. He was being praised for character, for wanting to stay out there, and for giving everything in a demanding game.

Flick confirmed that there was no injury concern and that the Portuguese international was just really tired. Eventually, he was replaced by Xavi Espart. After the international break, the return of Balde and Kounde would allow the German manager to rotate Cancelo more frequently and let’s wait and see if can keep his good form going forward.