Former Barcelona coach credits Hansi Flick for unlocking potential of young midfielder | OneFootball

Marc Casado’s rapid rise to prominence this season has been a boon for Barcelona, as the youngster has established himself as a key component in Hansi Flick’s midfield setup.

One individual who was well aware of Casado’s potential is Rafa Marquez, the former coach of Barça Atletic, who had seen him up close and personal.

Currently serving as the assistant coach of the Mexican national team, Marquez recently appeared on Que Thi Jugues to talk about Casado’s breakthrough this season.

Marquez credits Flick for Casado’s success

“I’m very happy for him. I’ve seen how he’s progressed through stages and processes, and I hope he maintains this level,” Marquez said when asked about Casado’s breakthrough.

Casado has indeed emerged as one of the rising stars in Spain this season, most notably making his debut for La Roja recently.

Delighted with his breakthrough, Marquez took the moment to praise Hansi Flick for finding and unlocking the midfielder’s potential.

“He has a very winning and competitive mentality. That’s what earned him this opportunity. Flick saw it and immediately decided to keep him, so credit goes to him,” he said.

A rising star for FC Barcelona (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

On whether or not Casado was as exuberant with Barça Atleti, Marquez said, “Yes, he’s very emotional, competitive, and exuberant. In any game, anything he won, he celebrated, and you can see his character and desire to succeed.

The Mexican coach added that Casado has more room to improve and grow into a better footballer.

“He has a lot of room for improvement. I think the level of confidence he has now allows him to dare to do things we hadn’t seen before,” he said.

“He never stops fighting. He’s very competitive. When things go wrong, he remains very positive. He’s a total leader,” he added.

Marquez believes Casado can ideally improve his concentration, adding, “His enthusiasm leads him to lose his positioning. He wants to cover too much space and leaves his zone. He needs to be more positional, and he’s gradually understanding that.”

Finally, Marquez praised Flick once again for giving chances to young academy graduates such as Casado, Marc Bernal and Sergi Dominguez.

“In the final stage of the process, there must be someone who trusts in them. The way Flick is managing things, his closeness to the players, the staff, and everyone working at the club has helped convince the players to give their all,” he concluded.