Hansi Flick talks Pedri, Lewandowski, Bernal, Olmo after Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Club | OneFootball

Hansi Flick was in high spirits following Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao. The German coach was thrilled with his team’s performance, expressing his joy at how well they played throughout the match.

Flick was particularly pleased with Pedri’s contributions, highlighting the young midfielder’s passion, composure, and the new dynamic he brings to the team.

He explained that having Pedri back after his injury has added a different rhythm to Barcelona’s gameplay.

“I’m also happy for Pedri, you can see what he gives us, the passion, the calm. It’s really good to have him because now we have a different rhythm,” said the manager as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

He went on to “thank the team, the physios, the entire technical team because they have done a great job with Pedri, fantastic, he has recovered from his last injury and is almost 100% fit.

“Today and in Valencia, he has helped us to have a lot of balance, he knows how to protect the ball, he brings passion and good combinations. It’s fantastic to have him on the pitch and that he is better,” he added.

Thoughts on Lewandowski and injuries

Roberto Lewandowski scored the winning goal for Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Flick also praised Robert Lewandowski, who scored the winning goal for Barcelona. Having worked with Lewandowski for a long time, Flick knows the striker’s capabilities well.

He noted Lewandowski’s fitness and his ability to press with the team, highlighting his knack for finding goals.

Flick described Lewandowski as a natural goalscorer whose professionalism and dedication to physical fitness make him an asset to the team.

“I know him very well, I have worked with him for a long time. He is 100% fit and when he faces the ball he is very good, he presses with the rest of the team and with the forwards and contributes a lot to the balls in front of him.

“In the first half, he could have scored one or two goals. He is a goal-getter, a born goalscorer and his goal gave us three points and the victory,” explained Flick.

Lewandowski’s goal was crucial in securing three points for Barcelona, particularly after Athletic Bilbao had equalised.

Flick stressed that the forward’s experience and sharpness in front of the goal were pivotal, and his career, marked by consistent success, speaks volumes about his quality as a player.

“Robert is very professional, he takes the issue of physical condition very seriously, it is a matter of body, not age.

“When he has a positive vision and is in shape he gives us a lot because he knows how to mark and manage pressure and we saw in the second half that we needed a goal after they equalised.

“We needed a second goal, he had his chance and he scored it. He is a great player with a successful career spanning many years,” said the manager.

Furthermore, despite the absences of key players like Gavi, Andreas Christensen and Frenkie de Jong and others due to injuries, Flick maintains a positive outlook. He believes in focusing on what can be controlled and making the best out of every situation.

“I always try to look at things from the positive side in any circumstance, that’s what I’ve told the team, that we have to accept things as they come and especially those that we can’t change.

“Without any regrets for what we can’t change, there’s no need to make excuses and the team is working well. It’s true that there are many injured, even some from last season like Frenkie or Gavi.

Flick also mentioned that players like Ansu Fati and Christensen are gradually getting back to full fitness.

“Ansu is also much better and at the beginning of preseason he already showed it and we hope he recovers 100%. Christensen also has problems that he carries over from last season.

He highlighted the importance of having a robust defensive setup, mentioning that players like Eric Garcia, Sergi Dominguez, and others from the B team are stepping up to fill gaps.

“This is the situation we have to deal with and if someone is not 100% he won’t be able to help us. At the defensive level, we’re doing well with Eric at 6, with Sergi Dominguez and other defenders from the B team and that’s how we’re doing at the moment.”

Dani Olmo’s problem and Marc Bernal

Dani Olmo could not play against Athletic Club. (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)

Regarding the uncertainty around Dani Olmo’s availability for the next match, Flick remains hopeful but understands that some situations are beyond his control.

“I don’t know, I hope so, I have hopes, these are things that we have to accept because we cannot change them, I already knew it would not be an easy task but what we need to do is focus on what we want and today what we wanted was to win three points.”

Flick also commended young Marc Bernal, who, despite being just 17 years old, has shown great maturity and results as a starting pivot.

He noted that Bernal’s age is irrelevant when it comes to his performance, as he has proven to be a valuable asset, especially against a team like Athletic Bilbao, known for their clear attacking style and use of space.

“This has nothing to do with age but with results, with play, and Bernal is getting good results, also during the preseason. He has qualities that we need and he is doing very well.

“Today’s game was not easy, Athletic is very clear about the style it wants to use, it knows how to attack and occupy the space behind our 4. Today it was very important to have a 6 very focused on defence and that is what it did,” explained the manager.

Overall, Flick praised the team’s attitude and the positive atmosphere within the squad. He enjoys working with a group that is receptive to his game plans and maintains high spirits in training.

“It’s a fantastic team, with a good atmosphere, the attitude in training is fantastic and it’s always a great pleasure to train with them. They always accept our game plans.

“It helps a lot to start with six points because if you put pressure on the players, things don’t go as you would like. It’s not about age but about results and I’m very happy with the results,” he said.