Hansi Flick breathed a sigh of relief as the final whistle confirmed Barcelona’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League Round of 16. The Catalan side played with ten men from the 22nd minute but displayed remarkable resilience to secure a crucial win.
The German coach expressed pride and satisfaction in the post-match press conference, emphasizing how much this victory meant to him, especially given the adversity his team faced.
Flick: "Proud of My Team"
Flick did not hide his admiration for Barcelona’s fighting spirit despite being a man down for most of the game.
"I am very proud of my team. Playing with ten men from the 22nd minute was incredibly difficult, but we put in a fantastic performance. Hats off to the players for their effort," he stated.
Pedri Shines, Tactical Decision on Olmo
Pedri once again proved his value to Barcelona, delivering an outstanding performance that drew praise from Flick. "Pedri is playing at an incredible level. We are very happy with him," the coach remarked.
As for Dani Olmo’s substitution, which raised some questions, Flick clarified that the decision was purely tactical and not related to the player's performance.
"These things happen. We had to make adjustments to maintain balance on the pitch. It had nothing to do with his performance but was purely a tactical choice," he explained.
Szczesny: A Wall in Goal
Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was the undisputed hero of the match, producing a series of crucial saves to keep Barcelona’s clean sheet intact despite being a man down.
"Keeping a clean sheet in a game like this is absolutely vital. Szczesny saved us and delivered an outstanding performance. His confidence grows with every game, and I see his quality every day in training. He is a phenomenal goalkeeper," Flick stated.
Cubarsi’s Red Card and Barcelona’s Response
The sending-off of Cubarsi could have been a major setback, but Flick highlighted how well his team reacted to the challenge. Rather than collapsing, they regrouped, stayed disciplined, and executed the game plan effectively.
"These things happen in football. The most important thing is how you respond, and our reaction was fantastic. Szczesny had an excellent game, but so did the rest of the team. It was a collective effort," he added.
This crucial win puts Barcelona in a strong position heading into the second leg, proving their ability to battle through adversity. Can they finish the job and advance to the quarter-finals?
