soccer

Hansi Flick talks Ferran, Atletico Madrid, title race after Barcelona 4-1 Espanyol

Yahoo Sports

Hansi Flick talks Ferran, Atletico Madrid, title race after Barcelona 4-1 Espanyol Barcelona brushed aside Espanyol 4-1 at the Spotify Camp Nou to extend their lead at the top of La Liga to nine points with seven matches remaining. Ferran Torres was the standout performer , netting twice in the first half, before Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford added further gloss. The result came just days before the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, with Barcelona needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg.

Speaking to the media after the game, Hansi Flick offered his thoughts on the Espanyol win and the road ahead, including the second leg tie against Atleti. What Flick said after Barcelona’s win over Espanyol The German identified two clear halves to the evening, satisfied with the first and candid about the second. “Today, the important thing was to win and get the three points.

We dominated the first half and had a chance to make it 2-0, but what happened afterwards wasn’t what we had planned. ” “The story of the game was different than expected after the break. The substitutions of Olmo and Frenkie helped us to have more control ,” he said.

Barcelona’s increasingly potent threat from set pieces has become a talking point this season, and Flick offered a simple explanation for why it is working. “It’s true that we’re scoring a lot of goals from set pieces. We don’t have the tallest team, but it’s a matter of space and putting the ball there ,” he said.

Ferran Torres has endured a difficult season in terms of criticism, and his first-half brace was a welcome moment for both player and coach. Flick was delighted for him, while also addressing the noise that had surrounded the forward. “I’m happy for Ferran and also for Lamine’s and Rashford’s goals.