Barcelona manager Hansi Flick conveyed his satisfaction with the team’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Tuesday night. The crucial equalizer came from Lamine Yamal in the dying moments of the game. Despite Newcastle largely dictating the pace of the match, the Blaugrana will return to Camp Nou with the tie evenly poised.
Flick openly acknowledged Newcastle’s superior performance on the night and noted Barcelona’s visible exhaustion in the latter stages. However, he confidently promised a “different Barcelona” for the second leg.
“We’ve had numerous prior matches and several injured players. Bernal and Pedri are just returning from periods of inactivity. We clearly need to improve, but the positive outcome for us is the result itself. To come back and secure a draw after being 1-0 down was fantastic,” Flick told Movistar+, as reported by MD.
“You will see a transformed Barça in the return leg.”
Flick Criticizes Ball Retention but Praises Defensive Effort
Flick’s primary frustration stemmed from Barcelona’s struggles in possession, feeling his side too often ceded the initiative to the Magpies. Conversely, he expressed contentment with their defensive display.
“We didn’t play effectively with the ball; we lost possession far too frequently, which is precisely what Newcastle thrives on. We were aware of their quick passing style. It wasn’t an easy game, but I am very pleased with my team, particularly our defence; we defended exceptionally well across the pitch. Our two centre-backs delivered a fantastic performance.”
He continued, “While we may have been tired, we played a very intense match given the atmosphere and against this opponent. I am very happy and truly appreciate what I witnessed defensively. However, we absolutely need to play much better with the ball. If you had offered me a 1-1 draw before the game, I would have gladly accepted it.”
Ronald Araujo Deployed at Right-Back
Ahead of the match, Eric Garcia was expected to start at right-back but was relegated to the bench due to muscle discomfort. Instead of shifting Joao Cancelo to right-back and Gerard Martin to left-back, with Ronald Araujo in central defence – their more natural positions – Araujo directly replaced Garcia.
Flick explained the decision: “He completed his task. We aimed to avoid too many positional changes; it was clear we wanted Cubarsi and Gerard as our centre-backs. I asked Ronald if he could play at full-back, and he delivered a good game. Towards the end, he was fatigued from so much running and didn’t recover optimally, but we had players in the right positions to compensate.”
In the closing stages, Xavi Espart made his debut, coming on for Araujo who suffered from cramps.
“There are no excuses; we had sufficient players available, and you could even see, when Xavi came on, that he performed very well. And that’s what I want to see, and I am pleased about it,” Flick added.
Prioritizing Pedri’s Playing Time
Several questions arose post-match regarding Barcelona’s physical condition, as an evidently exhausted Pedri, Marc Bernal, and Araujo were all substituted, seemingly struggling with fatigue.
“Right now, our priority is rest; the players’ duty is to recover and prepare thoroughly for Sunday’s match. We will have several days to prepare, so there won’t be extensive rest, but that’s standard. When you compete at this level in the Champions League and La Liga, it’s normal to have matches every two or three days, and we must adapt and manage these periods correctly,” Flick stated.
Pedri, arguably Barcelona’s standout performer on the night, was withdrawn with 20 minutes remaining.
“We absolutely must manage his playing time, and with Pedri, we have to exercise caution. He’s sustained two injuries this season and has only just returned from the most recent one. Naturally, everyone wants him on the pitch because he’s the player who dictates possession and controls the game,” Flick emphasized.
Barcelona is set to host Sevilla on Sunday night, followed by the highly anticipated return leg against Newcastle at Camp Nou the following Wednesday, in what will be a decisive encounter.
