Barcelona returned to winning ways on Saturday with a 4-1 victory over Espanyol in the derby at the Camp Nou. The match was tougher than the home team would have liked, but in the end they got the job done.
According to Diario AS, coach Hansi Flick gave a brief assessment of the match and expressed his satisfaction with Ferran Torres, who ended his goal drought with two goals.
"We dominated the first half and were winning 2-0. Everything seemed clear, but the game changed with the score 2-1. However, we can play better, but I'm happy for Torres. He's in a good moment. I see him in training. Of course, he's happy with the goals."
The win means Barcelona are now nine points ahead of Real Madrid with seven games remaining. They are heavy favourites to defend the title, although Flick does not consider the race closed yet.
"Nothing is finished. We have to do our job. We cannot say that everything is finished. This attitude is wrong and I do not accept it. Until it is completely secured, we must give our maximum. The team mentality is important and we will continue like this. I want to show this on Tuesday as well.
"We don't think negatively. On the contrary, I always think positively. I think about what we have achieved so far and it is fantastic, considering all the injuries; and the fact that we are now recovering."
With the score at 2-1 until the 86th minute, Barcelona failed to give players like Pedri and Lamine Yamal enough rest. Flick expressed concern about this ahead of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, although he does not see it as a major problem.
"Yes, but we managed the minutes and in the end the story of the match was different from what we expected after 2-1. We have two days to recover. Players usually know how to recover in that time. I believe we will be ready for Tuesday. We want to go to the Metropolitano and fight well against Atletico."
Flick also had a message for Barcelona fans ahead of this match, where the Catalans aim to overturn a two-goal deficit at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
"We don't need a miracle, just to play our best football. And we can do that. There are many possibilities. After 3-1, we scored again to make it 4-1. I know Atletico are a fantastic team, but so are we. We will fight and I'm sure the fans will support us there."
t7 live
