‘He is at the same level as Lamine’ — Hansi Flick applauds 19-year-old Barcelona star with huge praise | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have arrived at St James’ Park for a crucial UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Newcastle United. The first leg in England is expected to be a challenging encounter for Hansi Flick’s side, with both teams eager to gain an early advantage in the tie.

Ahead of the match, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, the German coach spoke to the media and shared updates about his squad while also highlighting the growing influence of Barcelona’s young players.

Flick first addressed the fitness of Marc Bernal, who had recently dealt with stomach issues after the match in Bilbao. The coach confirmed that the young midfielder has recovered and stressed that there is no rush to force him into the starting lineup.

“Bernal is fine, he has recovered. There is no pressure on me to start him despite his age. We are talking about a young team — Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, Cubarsí… They all have incredible quality. I enjoy them and seeing how they improve.“

However, it was Pau Cubarsi who received particularly glowing praise from the Barcelona manager. The 19-year-old centre back has quickly established himself as one of the most promising defenders in European football, and Flick did not hold back in describing his admiration for the youngster.

“It’s incredible how Cubarsí defends. He plays as a centre-back and stays fully focused. In Bilbao, he took a throw-in with incredible power — it looked like a corner. He is at the same level as Lamine, but as a defender. He still has to improve; he’s only 19, and when he gets more experience, he will be brutal. He can play at the highest level imaginable.”

This is undeniably huge praise from the German coach, and he surely knows better than most, considering that he spends a lot of his time training and monitoring these youngsters. Alas, the future of the Catalan club looks quite bright.