FC Barcelona were once again showcased their best level as they thrashed the Greek side Olympiacos in their last UEFA Champions League match. The Blaugranes beat the visitors 6-1, with Fermin Lopez scoring a hat-trick, Marcus Rashford scoring a brace, and Lamine Yamal also getting a goal to his name.
Head coach Hansi Flick was naturally delighted with the performance and expressed his satisfaction when speaking to the press after the match. As reported by Mundo Deportivo, the German coach was full of praise for the star of the evening, Fermin Lopez.
“Fermín had a great performance. Three goals — the first one was very important to open the scoring. He’s a player who has it all: he’s dynamic, and we also need his speed,” Flick told Movistar Liga de Campeones. Later, in his press conference, he reiterated his admiration for the young midfielder.
“He scores, he runs, he’s very complete. His performance was sensational. Three goals — the first was very important and gave us confidence. He has it all: he’s dynamic, he has speed,” Flick said.
The Barcelona coach also underlined how this result could boost his team’s confidence ahead of their next match against Real Madrid in El Clásico.
“The first thing is that we won today, which is the most important, and that should give us confidence for that match. It’s going to be a tremendous game. There isn’t much time to lose — we’ll recover and have to be ready,” he said.
Flick also spoke about Lamine Yamal and the importance of this victory for the youngster.
“Lamine has no issues. For him, as for the rest, it was very important to win and be able to score. Sunday will be another game. If you look back, he has always performed well in big matches,” Flick explained.
“El Clásico is a very important match, not only for Lamine but for the entire team. We have to prepare well for it,” he added.
When asked about Olympiacos coach José Luis Mendilibar’s frustration with some refereeing decisions, Flick remained calm and understanding.
“That’s not my problem. I see it differently, but I won’t get into it. I don’t know how the decisions changed the game. We have to play our game — there are situations for and against. I understand he’s upset,” he said.
Looking ahead to El Clásico, Flick was confident about his team’s chances while putting past results into perspective.
“That’s part of the past; now we’re in a different situation. But I’m optimistic — I think we can win in Madrid. We have a great team, we’ll recover two or more players, and we have time to rest and prepare for the match,” he said.
The German also recognized Olympiacos’ strong start to the game.
“Olympiacos played very well at the start; they made it difficult for us to play out from the back, but Fermín’s goal helped us gain more confidence. That’s something positive,” he explained.
Flick then praised Marcus Rashford, who continued his fine form for Barcelona with two goals.
“For me, he’s performing at a very high level and is an important player for the team. He won a penalty — which, for me, was indeed a penalty — and scored two goals. He’s very fast, combines well, and as he gains confidence, he’ll become even more important,” said Flick.
The coach also highlighted the performance of young midfielder Dro Fernandez, who made his Champions League debut in the match.
“He did very well. He occupied the space he needed to, and provided the assist for the second goal,” Flick noted.
However, Flick refused to reveal any hints about his possible lineup for the Real Madrid clash.
“There are still a few days left to decide, but in any case, he [Dro] is an option,” the coach concluded.
There is no doubt that this big win comes at a very opportune time, as Barcelona are set to face Real Madrid in their next match, with the top La Liga spot at stake. Hopefully, this UCL win will spur the team to put on another impressive display against the Merengues.