Hansi Flick talks Yamal, De Jong, Fermin, Olmo after Elche 1-3 Barcelona | OneFootball

Chances were in no shortage when Barcelona took on Elche at Estadio Martinez Valero on Saturday night, as the Catalans simply dominated and produced an xG of over 6 against Eder Sarabia’s men.

What they failed to do, however, was convert their chances and deliver a dominant scoreline, and it was only a 3-1 lead that they finished the game with.

Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford were the three goalscorers for the team on Matchday 22, but the team could well have had more than five different goal scorers and ten goals in the same game.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick spoke to the media on the pitch-side after the full-time whistle and began by emphasising how the team’s finishing must improve.

“We can’t keep missing these chances. It’s good that we created so many chances, but we needed to finish off the game in the first half and score many more goals.”

“This is always our focus. We want to win every match. It’s good to see this, and we’re happy to play with confidence and play so well,” he added.

He then praised the team’s best player on the night, Lamine Yamal, and spoke about how the youngster is showing a more polished game now.

“I’m really happy with Lamine Yamal’s recent situation: He’s not only focused on attack, but on defence as well.”

“It’s really great to see and we want to have him at this level,” he added.

Flick’s press conference

The Barcelona manager then faced the media in the official post-match press conference, where he reiterated many of the same ideas he had conveyed on the pitchside.

“I think that we played a really great game, almost perfect… except in the last 3 meters,” he began jokingly, speaking on the poor finishing.

Hansi Flick not happy with Barcelona’s finishing. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

He then praised Yamal once more for his masterclass as a creator-in-chief.

“Lamine Yamal is very young and he can become much better. He has incredible potential and we need him.”

Speaking on how his side dominated Elche on the night and delivered a great performance, Flick said,

“We were going through the spaces they left us very easily. We were creating a lot of chances and I want to congratulate my team for the performance.”

Finally, he provided an update on Raphinha and Jules Kounde, who were both seemingly taken off with discomfort.

“We knew we were going to sub Raphinha off. He’s a little bit tired and we had planned for that.”

“Kounde felt something so we had to sub him out, so we’ll see tomorrow,” he added.

On the midfield masterclass

Flick was then asked if he too felt Frenkie de Jong had a wonderful night leading the midfield and stepping up for the team, and he agreed, comparing his performance to Yamal’s.

“You can say the same for Lamine, they were really standing out for us today. Many players played well.”

He then praised Dani Olmo’s versatility and ability to play both as an attacking and defensive midfielder.

“I think Dani Olmo can play as an attacking midfielder or in the double pivot. Even in defence, I am happy with his work. He was important to us.”

He then admitted that Barcelona’s games when Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo have started have been some of the team’s best performances this season.

“This is the quality of both players. They have more freedom in movement and they combine very well.”

“They are a little bit different but they can play together. With the ball they have a lot of dynamism,” he added.

Source: Mundo Deportivo