Barcelona kicked off their preseason preparations with a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City of the Championship at St. Andrew’s on Friday, and Hansi Flick was satisfied with what he saw.
The boss was especially full of praise for 18-year-old striker Hamza Abdelkarim, who scored both goals and showed a glimpse of his potential on his first team debut.
> “Hamza is very humble and has a good character. He always tries to give his best and has great potential. As a striker, you have to show up in those situations inside the box, and today he was there. That’s what I ask of a number nine.”
Flick also gave his verdict on the team’s overall performance, and praised the many young players from _La Masia_ who got a chance to play on Friday.
> “We missed having more possession and made a few mistakes, but I’m happy. The feeling is good, and the entire coaching staff is satisfied with the young players’ performance.
>
> “The most important thing is that they have shown their quality, and I really appreciate that. It is a pleasure to work with them and see how they respond in matches like this, with this level of intensity.”
Barça will end their stay in England this weekend with a few more training sessions before returning to Catalonia on Monday.
See More: