Flick admits Barça struggled to hit top gear against Oviedo
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick reflects on his side's performance against Oviedo, citing fixture congestion as a factor in their slow start.
Barcelona eventually found their rhythm to secure victory against Oviedo, though manager Hansi Flick acknowledged his team took time to reach their best level.
Slow out the blocks
The German gaffer was refreshingly honest about his team’s performance, particularly in the opening 45 minutes when Oviedo’s high press caused problems for the Catalan giants.
“We’ve had many matches and travels, and while it’s not an excuse, it has cost us a bit more to reach our best level,” Flick explained after the match.
Barça’s schedule has been proper mental lately, with barely a day’s kip between fixtures and the squad racking up more air miles than your average package holiday operator.
Second half improvements
Flick was clearly chuffed with how his team responded after the break:
- An early goal helped settle nerves
- Improved pressing from the entire team
- Better overall control of the match
The manager specifically highlighted the pressing game as something that pleased him, both when discussing the team performance and when asked about Lamine Yamal, whose goal wasn’t even the aspect of his performance that most impressed Flick.
Player assessments
The German had positive words for several players:
Cancelo - Still adapting to Barça’s philosophy but showing quality in training and flashes during the match. Flick suggested he might be “more of an offensive player than a full-back” and noted this was just his first step.
Eric García - Praised for his versatility and leadership growth, having played both as a right-sided and central defender.
Dani Olmo - Highlighted for significant improvement in recent matches, with Flick appreciating his goal contributions, assists and control.
Marc Bernal and Marc Casadó - Described as complementary midfield partners who could feature together again, with Casadó praised for intelligence and Bernal for his ball-playing abilities.
Weather woes
The match finished slightly earlier than expected due to heavy rain, though Flick couldn’t recall the exact details when questioned about it, simply noting the fourth official had mentioned they would have added five minutes normally but only added three due to conditions.
With fixtures coming thick and fast, Barcelona will need to find ways to manage their energy levels while maintaining performance standards as they continue competing on multiple fronts.