Flick urges Barcelona to improve game management after Mestalla rout

Hansi Flick has warned Barcelona that a 5-0 victory over Valencia is not enough to hide the need for better game management as the Spanish league season gathers pace.

Barcelona produced a dominant display at Mestalla, controlling the match from the opening stages and scoring five times without reply. Flick said he was delighted with the performance, but also stressed that his players must learn to manage their effort more effectively with matches arriving in quick succession.

“It was a great match, we controlled it from the beginning. We controlled the game, and that is what I want,” Flick said after the final whistle.

The Barcelona manager praised his players after celebrating all five of his side’s goals, but resisted placing too much emphasis on their impressive scoring figures. Barcelona have now scored 17 goals and conceded only two in their opening four league matches.

“For me, it is only about the three points,” said Flick.

The German believes Barcelona have the quality to break down teams that defend deep, while also making better use of the spaces available to them and attacking with greater efficiency. However, he said the team’s control of the contest was particularly encouraging given the difficult conditions at Mestalla.

Temperatures reached 34C during the match, making the intensity of Barcelona’s performance even more significant in Flick’s view.

“It is good to see that, and we were able to control the match. We are happy,” he added.

Despite the emphatic scoreline, Flick used his post-match comments to challenge his squad rather than allow them to become complacent. He called for Barcelona to avoid relying too heavily on direct football and to find more effective ways of controlling matches over the full 90 minutes.

“I don’t know if it is necessary to say this after winning 0-5, but we need to try to control the match better. There are many games, and you always have to manage your energy,” he said.

Flick also discussed the yellow cards shown to Pau Cubarsi, Rodri and Fermin Lopez. The coach said he accepted the referee’s decisions, particularly the booking given to Cubarsi.

“The first one, the one Cubarsi received, was deserved. We have to accept it, and the referee did a great job,” Flick said.

The result underlined Barcelona’s attacking strength and defensive solidity during the early part of the campaign, while Flick’s comments showed that he is already focused on improving the finer details of the team’s performances. For the Barcelona manager, the heavy win at Mestalla was therefore both a statement of the side’s quality and a reminder that the demands of a long season extend beyond simply scoring goals.