Head coach Hansi Flick van Barcelona was proud of his players for the efforts they put in their 1-0 victory over Benfica in the Last-16 stage of the Champions League, despite playing with 10 men for most of the game on Wednesday.
Defender Pau Cubarsi was sent away in the 22nd minute for the pollution of the last man in an escape, although Raphinha's second half winner helped to overcome the chances.
“It's a great victory,” said Flick Movistar Plus of the Spanish TV station. “We are not only very happy with the victory, but also with how we could have achieved it. We defended very well, defended as a team, that is the most important thing for us. The collective effort of everyone.
“We managed the game well, even though we went down a man early in the first half and the reaction was fantastic. It was not easy, but we still have to play the second stage. Benfica is a good team and we have to keep an eye on them.”
On the red card itself, Flick did not want to be too hard on the 18-year-old Cubarsi and understood that things like this can happen.
26 – Benfica had 26 shots against Barcelona in yesterday's game; Their most record (since 2003-04) in a UEFA Champions League match without scoring. Fruitless. pic.twitter.com/4ryrvxob7H
– Optajoao (@Optajoao) March 6, 2025
“[The red card] Is one of those plays that happen in football, and it happened to us today. We all make mistakes.
“The most important thing is how we reacted, and the reaction was great,” said Flick, before he praised goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to do a brilliant achievement to keep Benfica at a distance.
Szczesny was convinced to come from retirement to play by Flick for Barcelona after Marc-Andre ter Stegen had sustained a torn knee ligament in September and, after his performance on Wednesday, repaid the faith shown in him.
“Szczesny was fantastic. It is clear that he is now different than he was when he arrived,” said Flick. “He has every game more confidently and we defend better with that. I have always known that he could play at this level because I see him in training every day. It's great for us.”
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