Hansi Flick admitted Barcelona had to rely on their superior quality to secure a hard-fought 2-0 victory away to city rivals Espanyol in a tense Catalan derby, Softfootball reports.
Speaking to the press after the match in comments shared via the club’s official X handle, the Barça boss praised the atmosphere, his goalkeeper, and the impact of his substitutes in a contest that was far from straightforward.
The German coach was quick to acknowledge the challenge posed by Espanyol, who pushed Barcelona throughout the encounter in an intense derby environment. Flick said:
I think the atmosphere was unbelievable, it’s really good. It was a derby and Espanyol played fantastic, So, you know, I can also say that we didn’t deserve the three points, but at the end the quality we bring on the pitch in the second half was fantastic. At the end, the quality decided the game.
While Barcelona grew into the match after the break, Flick singled out his goalkeeper for special praise, highlighting his composure and leadership at the back during key moments of pressure. He added:
I can say that we have a fantastic goalkeeper today – not only today. For me, John is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. His body language, confidence – you can see it every single minute and action. He gives us a lot of support from behind, so it’s great to see.
Flick also emphasized the importance of squad depth, crediting the players who came off the bench for changing the course of the match and ensuring Barcelona left with all three points. He explained:
What I really appreciate is that the players who came in the second half are directly there and try to give the best. At the end they decided the match for us. Three points, of course maybe not deserved, but at the end we take it and it’s good.
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Ahead of the derby, Flick had also addressed the situation surrounding Ronald Araújo, confirming that the decision on the defender’s return to the pitch had been left in the player’s hands. Araújo took a break away from football earlier this season, with Barcelona offering full support throughout what the club described as a difficult personal period.
The win over Espanyol may not have been Barcelona’s most fluent performance, but Flick’s side once again showed resilience and depth, relying on decisive moments of quality to prevail in one of the toughest fixtures on the calendar.
