Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick was pleased with his gamers for the trouble they put into their 1-0 victory over Benfica within the Champions League last-16 first leg, regardless of taking part in with 10 males for many of the sport on Wednesday.
Defender Pau Cubarsi was despatched off within the twenty second minute for fouling the final man in a breakaway, although Raphinha’s second-half winner helped his membership overcome the percentages.
“It’s a nice victory,” Flick informed Spanish TV station Movistar Plus. “We’re thrilled not solely with the win but additionally with how we managed to realize it. We defended very properly, defended as a workforce, that’s an important factor for us. The collective effort from everybody.
“We managed the sport properly regardless of going a person down early within the first half and the response was unbelievable. It wasn’t straightforward, however we nonetheless need to play the second leg. Benfica are a great workforce and we’ve to control them.”
On the purple card itself, Flick didn’t need to be too harsh on 18-year-old Cubarsi and understood that issues like this may occur.
26 – Benfica had 26 pictures towards Barcelona in yesterday’s match; their most on document (since 2003-04) in a UEFA Champions League match with out scoring. Fruitless. pic.twitter.com/4RyRVXOb7H
— OptaJoao (@OptaJoao) March 6, 2025
“[The red card] is a type of performs that occur in soccer, and it occurred to us as we speak. All of us make errors.
“A very powerful factor is how we responded, and the response was nice,” Flick stated, earlier than praising goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny for placing in an excellent efficiency to maintain Benfica at bay.
Szczesny was satisfied to come back out of retirement to play for Barcelona by Flick after Marc-Andre ter Stegen sustained a torn knee ligament in September and, after his efficiency on Wednesday, repaid the religion proven in him.
“Szczesny was unbelievable. It’s clear that he’s completely different now than he was when he arrived,” stated Flick. “Each sport he’s extra assured and we’re defending higher due to that. I’ve all the time identified he may play at this stage as a result of I see him daily in coaching. It’s nice for us.”
