BARCELONA.- The technician of the Barcelona, Hansi Flickadmitted this Monday on the eve of receiving the Aston Villa in the Champions League that managing the numerous casualties in defense “is not easy.”
“We have four losses in defense, of quality players,” said Flick, referring to the absences of Xavi Espart, Eric García, Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen.
“It’s not easy to manage that,” said Flick, although he highlighted the involvement of the rest of the players in defense.
“Let’s hope that all the injured players return after the (international) break,” added the Barça coach, who rejected the idea that the team is not at the level of the greats after their defeats against real Madrid and PSG.
Flick insisted that Barça played at the same level as their two opponents and that before those two setbacks they had won their eleven previous games.
“At this level anything can happen,” recalled the German coach, insisting that “we can make history and we work for it.”
“We have the quality to win and to achieve our objectives, which are LaLiga and the Champions League“said Flick, focusing on the next match against Aston Villa.
“They are in a great moment with Unai Emery, who for me is one of the best coaches in Europe”said Flick.
“He has a very clear idea of how he wants to play both in defense and attack and I really like what I see,” added the manager, making it clear that it will be “a tough game.”
“The Champions League is special in every game and the rivals are all complicated,” insisted the Barça coach.
Flick once again praised Raphinha, the team’s top scorer, who is “at a spectacular level.”
“His strengths and characteristics adapt perfectly to our style of play,” he said.
“He is very focused, he is our captain and he is showing his quality, which is something important for us,” he concluded.
Boca triumphs in the Argentine classic
Boca Juniors won the Argentine soccer superclassic on Sunday 1-0 against an uncontrolled River Platewhich ended with nine players.
The defender Lautaro Di Lollo scored with a header in the 27th minute, the only goal of the match played in The Bombonera, for the fifteenth and penultimate date of the Clausura tournament.
River Plate, needing victory to ensure their qualification for the round of 16, suffered the expulsion of their defenders Lucas Martínez Quarta (9′) and Gonzalo Montiel (79′).
“We won because we played an intelligent match. I told my teammates that this match is something unique, that they should enjoy it. We could have scored a few more goals, but we were intelligent, the important thing was to win. We still haven’t achieved anything, but we are on the right track,” remarked the Boca captain. Leandro Paredes.
