Flick praises Barcelona’s performance and backs Szczesny after Racing error

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick praised his side’s performance after their 7-2 victory over Racing Santander, but warned his players that maintaining focus and intensity would be more important than their perfect start to the season.

The result extended Barcelona’s winning run and left them top of La Liga with 18 points from their opening matches. Flick said the early momentum was encouraging, but insisted the team must continue working until the end of the campaign.

“Football is like life: you always have to improve,” Flick said after the match at Spotify Camp Nou. “We played well regardless of the result, and I like the way we play. It is nice to watch.”

He added, as reported by Marca: “The most important thing is always to be fully focused in every situation during the match, and with every pass.”

Flick said Racing Santander had made the game more difficult than the scoreline suggested, praising their approach and ability to keep possession.

“I like the way we played and the result, and I am happy. The team is happy too,” he said. “Playing against Racing was not easy. They play good football and want to have the ball, so we deserved this result.”

The German coach also played down the significance of Barcelona’s current record, saying a strong beginning would count for little without a successful finish.

“It is good to have a good start, but what matters is having a good ending,” he said. “We have confidence, but the most important things are the dynamic we have, the intensity of our performance and our pressing.”

Barcelona continued to press even after building a substantial lead, something Flick described as central to their identity.

“That is our mentality and the way we want to play,” he said. “If we lose the ball, we have to go and win it back.”

Wojciech Szczesny started after Joan Garcia suffered a knee problem and was at fault for Racing’s second goal, hesitating in front of goal before Moroccan forward Yasser Al-Zabiri took advantage.

Flick defended the goalkeeper and said mistakes were an unavoidable part of football.

“I am calm when Szczesny plays. It is normal to make mistakes; that is football,” he said. “Joan Garcia had some problems with his knee and we hope he will be fine. Szczesny is our second goalkeeper, and everyone makes mistakes.”

“We conceded a goal that was unnecessary, but the same applies to the first goal. Everyone makes mistakes, and these are things we have to improve.”

Flick also praised Karim Adeyemi, saying the Germany international still had plenty to offer Barcelona and had settled well in the dressing room.

“Football is a team game and the most important thing is the team. That is what I want from my players,” he said. “Adeyemi gives us a lot and has significant room to adapt. He will adapt to our philosophy.”

“He gave us a lot, as we saw today. The Catalan fans were completely behind him. He was not going through a good period in Germany, but he is popular in the dressing room and has great pace.”

Flick rejected comparisons with previous Barcelona teams, saying the current side had not achieved anything yet.

“It is not easy to compare them with previous teams, and I do not like doing that,” he said. “I also liked the teams I coached in my first and second seasons.”

“We have not won anything yet. We must continue working and making the effort. We are on the right path and must continue that way.”