Hansi Flick talks Szczęsny, Peña, Lewandowski, Fermín, García, Fati, Gavi, Balde after Barcelona 7-1 Valencia | OneFootball

FC Barcelona finally returned to winning ways in La Liga with a dominant victory over Valencia. It was a goal fest at the Montjuïc Stadium, as the Catalan giants netted seven goals past Carlos Corberán’s side to secure three crucial points.

After the match, Hansi Flick addressed the media in his customary press conference. He reflected on various aspects of the game and took the opportunity to highlight the standout performances of several players.

As Mundo Deportivo has reported, Flick emphasized the importance of maintaining a fresh squad during this busy period and lauded the efforts of players who don’t regularly feature in the starting XI.

“It was a perfect match. We knew it was important to have fresh players. We started focused, with intensity, we saw goals, and a great performance from players who don’t usually feature as much.”

One of the more surprising decisions was Flick’s choice to start veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny over Iñaki Peña. This marked Szczęsny’s first La Liga start since joining the club. Flick addressed the decision candidly, praising both goalkeepers and explaining the reasoning behind his choice:

“I know the situation isn’t easy for Iñaki, but this is football. We make decisions thinking about the team, and we felt a change was needed. With Szczesny, we always win. Both he and Iñaki are excellent goalkeepers.”

“Today, we went with Tek, and it was the right choice. Sometimes, it comes down to a feeling. It’s our job to make the decision we believe is best for the team. I don’t know what the future holds.”

Flick also had high praise for Robert Lewandowski, who scored after coming on in the second half:

“Lewy scored in the second half. I love the team’s hunger. We enjoy playing this way, but today the three points were crucial.”

Fermín López also received special recognition from the Barcelona manager for his pressing, defensive efforts, and creativity on the ball:

“Fermín showed how good he is at pressing and defending, and he was incredible on the ball.”

Another key takeaway from the match was the performance of less regular players, with Flick expressing his satisfaction with the squad’s depth:

“I enjoyed seeing the less regular players perform at such a high level. They did very well. Today, we had to get it right, and we did. We need to keep this up.”

Regarding Eric García, who has been fighting for more minutes this season, Flick confirmed the defender’s future at the club, expressing confidence in his abilities:

“He’s staying, and I’ll be happy to have him for another year. He’s very good, and I know he wants more minutes. Today, he played very well, giving us stability and ball progression, and he can play in different positions.”

One Barcelona player whose future remains uncertain is Ansu Fati, who was once again an unused sub against Valencia. Flick spoke with the young forward, confirming that Ansu wants to stay and fight for his place, despite the lack of first-team action:

“I’ve spoken to him, and he wants to stay. Everyone wants to play. He’s performing well in training, so we’ll see if he can participate.”

Barcelona head coach also revealed that it was Gavi who requested him to sub in Pablo ahead of him as the youngster is struggling for prominence:

“I wanted to sub in Gavi in the second half, and he himself suggested giving the opportunity to Pablo Torre so he could also get some minutes. There’s a great vibe in the team.”

Finally, Flick praised the performance of Alejandro Balde, noting:

“He has great potential, but he can do even better.”

Barcelona’s dominant win over Valencia showcased a well-rounded performance from both regular starters and those who have been more peripheral this season. However, the challenge for Flick moving forward will be to maintain this high level of performance and ensure the squad remains fresh as the season progresses.