Flick Praises La Masia: "The Young Players Have Earned It"
Barcelona's coach, Hansi Flick, affirmed after his team's league debut victory against Valencia (2-1) that his decision to rely on academy players isn't just because they're from La Masia, but because of the high level they've shown and the growth they've experienced during the preseason.
"We wanted to start with three points, and it's great that we did. Many players are coming from the Euros and the Olympics. The young players from La Masia have a lot of quality, and they've grown significantly over these six weeks; they have earned it," he stated in the post-match press conference.
"I don't worry about whether a player comes from La Masia, but it's great to have these players, and today you could see what they did. It's fantastic and gives us a lot at the start of the season," he added.
The German coach emphasized that they earned "three very important points" given the context. "It was a tough battle, considering the stadium and Valencia, who played very well. It was a very intense match, but I think we deserved it in the end," he said.
When asked about Lamine Yamal, his performance, and the fact that Mestalla gave him an ovation, he remarked, "Lamine is a fantastic player, very important for us. He's a great player, and everyone loves to watch him play."
"Lamine is a great player; it doesn't surprise me that they gave him an ovation; everyone loves watching him play football," he added.
Flick explained that Gündogan didn't make the squad because "he had some physical issues." "I talked to him to see how he was doing. I know him very well, and I value him a lot. I have the feeling that he will stay," he concluded.
