Barcelona returned to winning ways on Saturday with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Girona at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. Ronald Araujo was the hero for the Catalan side, as he came off the bench to score in stoppage time.
As per Diario AS, Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick opened up on the decision to play Araujo as a makeshift striker, which he needed to do given that Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres were absent due to injury.
“I asked him before he came on, do you think you can play in this position? He said yes. I’m very happy with his goal, he always plays with his heart.”
Flick on early Lamine Yamal, Pedri substitutions
Flick surprised many with his decision to take on Lamine Yamal and Pedri on the hour mark with the score at 1-1, but he was thinking long-term with it.
“Lamine and Pedri’s situations were clear. We have to take care of the players. Toni played the first 45 minutes and he’s good for us. We have made the right strategy for this match. Fermín could only play 45 minutes. If you are convinced of what you have to do, you have to do it.”
Flick: “The referee didn’t want to talk to me”
Flick was sent off in the second yellow by referee Jesus Gil Manzano, and post-match, he reacted to the dismissal. He also spoke on a possible penalty that Barcelona were denied, and also Pau Cubarsi’s disallowed goal in the second half.
“I didn’t do anything against anyone. I applauded de Jong on the first card, and on the second, I don’t know why he gave it to me. I would never do anything against anyone. I didn’t say anything against the referee. I applauded to cheer on my team. Now I don’t think about missing El Clásico. The referee didn’t want to talk to me, he left and I accept it. He’s the referee.
“The referee makes his decisions and we have the VAR. The referee makes his decisions on the pitch. If he doesn’t want to talk to me, it’s his decision.”
