Flick talks Bernal, Cancelo, Lamine, Bardghji, Joan Garcia after Barcelona 3-0 Levante | OneFootball

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was a satisfied figure after his side delivered a convincing performance against Levante. 

With pressure building in the La Liga title race, the Catalan giants responded in the best possible way.

Speaking after the match, Flick made it clear that the early goal set the tone for everything that followed. 

“Scoring early was very important; we saw the confidence we had from the start. As the game progressed, we improved and deserved to win,” he began.

Bernal’s starting spot

The manager highlighted how the team grew stronger as the match unfolded. 

Marc Bernal was on the scoresheet. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

Against a deep defensive block, patience and structure were key, and Barcelona showed both.

One of the talking points before kick-off was the inclusion of Marc Bernal in midfield. Flick was asked whether he wanted more control in the centre of the park and how he assessed the youngster’s performance. 

The Barcelona manager explained the tactical reasoning behind his selection. 

“When you play with such a low block, you need help from the midfielders, who come up from the second line. Marc is a great player for the future. I hope he has a bright future if he stays healthy.”

On Joao Cancelo

Another player who caught the eye was Joao Cancelo. The Portuguese full-back was heavily involved in attacking phases and constantly pushed forward. 

Flick did not hold back in his praise. “He was fantastic, he created chances and that’s what I want to see. He showed his strengths. He can help us a lot.”

The victory also allowed Barcelona to regain the La Liga lead from Real Madrid, something Flick acknowledged but refused to overhype. 

“It’s important and positive. We had the opportunity after Saturday’s result and we took advantage of it. But there’s still a long way to go. Today we gave the response we needed.”

Lamine Yamal’s substitution

Lamine Yamal was taken off. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

There was also discussion around Lamine Yamal and his visible frustration after being substituted. Flick downplayed any drama surrounding the teenager. 

“What reaction? Was he angry? That’s normal. For me, the most important thing is that we won and we also have players who deserve to play, like [Roony] Bardghji. 

“I liked his attitude when he came on. That’s it. You guys make a big deal out of everything Lamine does. If he’s upset because he was substituted, that’s only human.”

The manager ended by praising two more key contributors. On Bernal’s overall display, he said, 

“He’s done a great job, he’s given us structure with the ball, he knows where he needs to be at all times, controlling the ball. I like watching him play,” and regarding goalkeeper Joan Garcia, 

“He helps us a lot in the back line and is very useful to us,” he concluded.

Source: AS