Flick shares honest take on UCL journey and Yamal’s substitution after Barcelona 2-2 Atalanta | OneFootball

Barcelona concluded their Champions League group stage campaign with a 2-2 draw against a well-organised Atalanta side.

The result secured second place for the Catalan giants, finishing behind Liverpool in this phase of the newly structured competition.

Hansi Flick expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, particularly their ability to secure qualification despite facing tough opponents throughout the group stage.

“We played against a great team, with a great philosophy, we did well in the second half. Atalanta played very well,” he began saying.

Reflecting on the draw, Flick highlighted the significance of finishing second. While there were moments where Barcelona could have performed better, securing a spot in the next phase was a positive outcome.

“I am happy with second place after this league phase. I think it is a great success for the team. It was a difficult match. I think we could have done a little better, but overall we are satisfied with the result and qualification as second,” he noted.

On Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal was taken off. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The game also saw young talent Lamine Yamal’s late substitution for Pau Victor. Flick clarified that the decision was tactical as he sought to push for a winning goal in the final minutes.

While the result remained a draw, the decision showcased Flick’s willingness to make bold moves to influence the game’s outcome.

“Yes, well. I was a bit disappointed with the result, but he is young. It was at the end of the game that Pau Victor came on. I wanted to change something and I thought we could still win, but I am happy.”

Next opponent

As Barcelona await their next opponents, potential matchups with strong teams like PSG, Benfica, Monaco, and Brest loom large.

“It’s always the same. If you think this could be a good opponent… it could end up being the toughest. Today I saw a lot of things that we did very well and others that we can do better.”

Flick emphasised the unpredictable nature of the new Champions League format, pointing out that seemingly manageable opponents can turn out to be formidable challengers.

“I think it’s a new format and the most important thing is that you never know what will happen. Now I can say that I’m happy with this format because we’re in the top 8 and we have 15 more days to train.”

Improvement in defence

Hansi Flick wants improvement in defence. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Defensive stability remains an area of focus for Barcelona. While Flick was pleased with the overall group stage performance, he acknowledged that further work is needed to tighten up at the back.

With 15 days before the next phase, the coaching staff has ample time to fine-tune the team’s approach.

“Yes, that needs to be improved. We are happy to finish in this position but we need to work on many things and we are doing that.”

Source: AS