Flick talks Lamine, Raphinha, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid after Barcelona 5-0 Athletic Club | OneFootball

Barcelona could hardly have asked for a more convincing start to their Spanish Super Cup campaign, and Hansi Flick made no effort to hide his satisfaction after his side crushed Athletic Club 5-0 in the semi-final. 

Immediately after the final whistle, Flick shared his thoughts on the performance, stressing his focus on what comes next and his genuine appreciation for what he witnessed on the pitch. 

As Flick explained, “For me, as soon as the game ends, I’m already thinking about the next one, but I really appreciate what I saw today. 

“We kept another clean sheet, and that’s very good because it gives us confidence in defence. 

“We saw a different mentality and attitude, and I really liked seeing how we played as a team, both in attack and defence.”

On Lamine Yamal and Raphinha

One of the main talking points before kick-off was the absence of Lamine Yamal from the starting XI. 

Given his importance to Barcelona’s attack, questions quickly followed after the match. 

Flick was keen to calm any concerns, offering clarity on the teenager’s situation and reassuring supporters about his condition. 

“He’s been feeling a bit off the last few days, couldn’t train, and that’s why he wasn’t in the starting lineup. But he’s fine,” he explained.

Another major positive from the night was Raphinha, who delivered a superb display and scored twice. 

Raphinha scored twice against Athletic Club. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Flick made it clear how pleased he was to see the Brazilian back, making a decisive impact. 

“I’m very happy for him. He always shows 100% mentality on the field, and I’m very happy to have him back.”

Eyes on the other semi-final

With Barcelona now through to the final, attention naturally turned to their potential opponent. 

When asked whether he had a preference for who he would like to face in the decisive match, Flick avoided giving anything away. 

“The good thing is that we’re in the final. We’ll see what happens in the other semifinal.”

The press conference also had its lighter moments. Flick is known for joking that he often goes to sleep rather than watching late Real Madrid matches on television. 

When reminded that the other semi-final would start relatively early, he was asked if he would be tuning in this time. 

With a smile, Flick replied, “I can’t confirm that (laughs).”

Looking ahead, Flick once again refused to be drawn into choosing between Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid as a preferred opponent, underlining his calm approach. 

As he summed it up, “That’s the good thing about being in the final, you can watch the game calmly and see what happens.” 

Source: Mundo Deportivo