Following Barcelona’s 2-4 defeat to PSG in the third round of the Champions League group stage, coach Hans-Dieter Flick shared his insights on the match.
The highly anticipated match saw PSG demonstrating a superior performance, prompting Flick to acknowledge the lessons his players need to learn from the reigning champions.
Flick commended 19-year-old right-back Xavi Espart for scoring his first European goal, highlighting the exceptional quality he displayed during the game.
Hansi Flick on the Match Performance: “We Recognized Areas for Improvement”
“It was a fantastic match from both teams. We made too many errors in our build-up play. We must analyze this aspect while taking note of the positives. It was a good test for us, and we recognized areas where we need to improve,” Flick stated.
He noted the absence of players Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde, praising the performance of his full-backs, particularly Xavi Espart, whose level was extraordinary. “We knew he had great quality, which we observed during the summer training camp. Joan Garcia also had a strong match,” he added.
Flick remarked that the team faltered in the last ten minutes, allowing PSG to score their fourth goal. “We saw many good things, but I will focus on correcting the negatives. We need to remain calmer in front of goal and choose the right solutions, as PSG did today. Yes, PSG was better than us today, but trophies are won in June, not in October,” he concluded, according to UEFA.
“We fought hard, but small details made the difference. We are improving with every match. Scoring my first goal in the Champions League is bittersweet; the victory was more important,” said Xavi Espart of Barcelona.
Xavi Espart’s Performance Metrics Against PSG:
Played 74 minutes
Scored 1 goal
Recovered 5 balls
Covered 9.19 kilometers
Achieved 87% passing accuracy
Maximum speed reached: 31.2 km/h (data provided by UEFA)
