Fermin Lopez shares unexpected gift from Hansi Flick after Newcastle clash: ‘He gave us…’ | OneFootball

Barcelona’s stunning 7-2 demolition of Newcastle United was a night packed with attacking brilliance, and at the heart of it all was Fermin Lopez. 

The young midfielder delivered one of his most complete performances in a Barça shirt, scoring, assisting, and playing a key role in winning a crucial penalty that shifted the momentum of the game.

While the scoreline grabbed headlines, what stood out just as much was the reaction inside the dressing room afterwards. 

Amid the celebrations, Hansi Flick made a gesture that showed both his satisfaction and trust in the squad.

Revealing the manager’s decision post-match, Fermin shared, “He gave us a day off.”

Analysing the match

Despite the emphatic nature of the result, Fermin talked about the challenges Barcelona faced early on. 

Newcastle’s aggressive pressing disrupted Barça’s rhythm in the first half and forced several errors.

“They put a lot of pressure on us in the first half; we lost too many balls, although we also created chances. In the second half, we were more in control.”

Even with seven goals on the board, the midfielder made it clear that the team is far from satisfied. 

Fermin Lopez played a key role. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

There is a clear demand within the squad to keep improving, regardless of the result. Acknowledging both the positives and the areas to fix, he said, 

“It feels good to have scored seven goals, even though we conceded two. There are always things we need to improve.”

Second half turnaround

A key aspect of Barcelona’s turnaround came from tactical adjustments in the second half, and Fermin himself played a central role in executing Flick’s instructions. 

Explaining his specific role on the pitch, he revealed, “Flick asked me to help with the build-up because they were marking us man-to-man. 

“If we got past that line of pressure, we could attack the space, which is what I tried to do. It worked out well, and we were able to play a great game.”

Facing Atletico Madrid

Looking ahead, Barcelona could face Atletico Madrid in the next stage, a team that has already caused them problems this season. 

However, Fermin dismissed any talk of revenge, instead focusing on respect and preparation.

Addressing that possibility, he said, “There’s no desire for revenge. Atleti is a great team; they’ll surely make it very difficult for us. 

“They already knocked us out of the Cup; we know what they’re capable of. We have to learn from what happened to us. Play a great tie and hopefully advance,” he concluded.

Source: Mundo Deportivo