Flick pleased as Barça reclaim top spot, plays down Lamine Yamal substitution drama
Hansi Flick reflects on a comfortable 3-0 win over Levante that puts Barcelona back at the summit, and addresses Lamine Yamal's visible frustration at being hooked.
Barça are back on top of La Liga after a convincing 3-0 win over Levante, and Hansi Flick was in a pretty upbeat mood when he faced the press — though he had a few things to address beyond just the three points.
Back where they belong
After back-to-back defeats to Atlético de Madrid and Girona, this was exactly the sort of response Barça needed. Flick was clear about how important it was to get back to the summit quickly, and the manner of the win — a fast start, controlled performance, clean sheet — will have given him plenty to smile about on the way home.
- The early goal was crucial, giving the team confidence from the off
- Midfielders contributing from deeper positions helped break down Levante’s low block
- Flick noted the team improved as the match went on and felt they fully deserved the win
Cancelo’s moment in the sun
João Cancelo was one of the standout performers on the night, particularly in the first half where he caused all sorts of problems. Flick was full of praise for the Portuguese full-back, highlighting his ability to create chances and calling him a fantastic footballer who can contribute a great deal to the side.
Whether Cancelo keeps his place in the starting eleven remains to be seen — Flick said there’s a week to think about it — but on this evidence, it’d be hard to drop him.
The Lamine Yamal situation
Look, this was always going to come up. Lamine Yamal was visibly unhappy when he was substituted, which is the sort of thing that gets clocked by cameras and turns into a talking point sharpish.
Flick, to his credit, was pretty measured about it. His view? “It’s a normal reaction when a player comes off and isn’t happy” — and he left it at that. The German coach steered the conversation towards the collective, pointing out that players like Roony Bardghji, who came on and did well, also deserve their minutes. No drama, no fuss — just a manager making the point that this is a squad game.
Other bits worth noting
- Marc Bernal got a glowing mention from Flick, who sees him as a big part of the club’s future and was delighted with how he performed on the night
- Joan García in goal also earned praise — Flick described him as a complete goalkeeper, calm, well-positioned, and a real help to the defensive line
- With no Champions League for a couple of weeks, Flick is looking forward to using the time to prepare properly before the calendar gets hectic again — Villarreal up next in La Liga
The bigger picture
Three points, back on top, and a performance that showed some real character after a rough patch. It’s not been plain sailing for Barça lately, and Flick acknowledged it hasn’t all been perfect — but a 3-0 win has a way of smoothing things over. Job done.