Flick backs Barcelona’s approach after victory over Atletico Madrid

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick says he remains fully convinced by his team’s style of play, insisting their defeats by Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain were not the result of poor performances.

Barcelona moved back to the top of La Liga with a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano in the 12th round of the competition.

“We know how strong we are,” Flick said at his news conference. “We lost against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, but we did not play badly. I believe in my team and we are completely convinced by the system we play with. Look at what we produced in the second half.”

Fermin Lopez scored both of Barcelona’s goals, while Giuliano Simeone replied for Atletico Madrid.

The result took Barcelona’s points total to 33 and restored them to first place in La Liga. Atletico remained third on 28 points.

Flick also explained his decision to use Frenkie de Jong at right-back, saying the Netherlands international had accepted the role for the benefit of the team.

“I asked him whether he was ready to play in that position and he told me that, if the team needed him there, he would play,” said Flick.

“The original plan was for Frenkie to play as a full-back and then be replaced when Marc Bernal felt tired. Everything went well.”

The Barcelona manager highlighted the improvement in his side’s pressing after the interval.

“The pressing was extremely important,” he said. “Before that, we were much too far away from the opponent and they were able to play the ball out. We improved in that area during the second half.”

Julian Alvarez provided the assist for Atletico’s goal, meaning Barcelona are now the club against whom the Argentine forward has recorded the most goal contributions during his time with Atletico Madrid. His total stands at seven, comprising four goals and three assists.

Barcelona have also become the only side in Europe’s five major leagues with more than one player having contributed to at least 10 goals this season. They have three players who have reached that mark.

Lamine Yamal created seven chances against Atletico, making him the first Barcelona player to do so in a La Liga match against the club since Xavi in October 2008.