Hansi Flick’s Barcelona side were no match for Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday.
They were beaten thoroughly by Enzo Maresca’s men, losing 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were helped by Ronald Araujo’s sending off, but they still put together a magnificent performance.
Flick wants his Barcelona team to play like Chelsea and admitted that after the full-time whistle.
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However, it is not the only thing that the German has said about the Club World Cup winners.
Chelsea players celebrating Barcelona win
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Hansi Flick thinks Chelsea are a ‘fantastic team’
Flick cannot ignore the fact that Chelsea played the entire second half with a one-man advantage. Nevertheless, in his eyes, they are still a “fantastic team”.
Speaking to Sky Sports and other media outlets after the game, the former Bayern Munich and Germany boss said: “We started very well, we had a big chance to score the first goal and of course, with the red card everything changed.
“It’s not easy against this fantastic team to come back with 10 players. We have to accept defeat but I’m also looking positively at the next games.”
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It was a huge win for Maresca’s side, but they cannot get carried away. They have another massive match against Arsenal next.
It is a fixture that could see Cole Palmer return after the attacking midfielder was involved in training prior to the Barcelona tie.
Hansi Flick during Chelsea vs Barcelona
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Chelsea don’t get the credit they deserve in England
While Flick thinks Chelsea are a fantastic side, not everyone will agree with him, especially in England.
Despite winning two trophies last season and qualifying for the Champions League, the Blues still have their critics.
For example, former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville has been very critical of Chelsea. He recently went as far as to say that the club do not have any great players. Try telling that to Palmer, Estevao Willian and Moises Caicedo.
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“He’s incredible. He’s got the world at his feet. Just keep grounded and keep working hard, and he can do anything.”
Liam Delap
“The goal from Estevao reminded me of the goal he scored against us in the Club World Cup. Estevao needs to relax, enjoy his football. Him and Lamine, if you start to talk about Messi and Ronaldo, it’s too much pressure for young boys like them. It’s too much for them.”
Enzo Maresca
“It is right to give Estevao a little bit of space to keep growing. He is doing very well but he has a lot of ground to cover in my opinion.
“The more he plays, the more physically, he will be stronger. And he will read the game better. All those things come with experience and I think that he is promising to become a very, very important player.”
Gianfranco Zola
Maybe it is because of how much money Chelsea have spent since they were taken over by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. There is perhaps an expectation for the team to be performing well in both the Champions League and Premier League and ultimately no reason to praise them.
Whatever the case, people in England simply do not want to admit that Chelsea are, in the words of Flick, a fantastic team.