Barcelona’s crushing defeat of Valencia in Montjuïc forced us to review the history books. Barça now has 101 goals in 32 games. Hansi Flick became the second Barcelona coach who needed the fewest games to reach a hundred goals, after Helenio Herrera, who achieved the feat in 31 games in 1959. “I love the team’s hunger. They are not satisfied with 2-0 or 3-0, they always want to play. But I am not interested in the number of goals, but in the points,” highlighted the German coach.
From Barça’s joy to Valencia’s dismay. “We have to digest the pain we have. We have not represented Valencia at the appropriate level. This requires deep analysis. You have to find solutions to compete and, from there, look for the reaction. This defeat can only increase the desire to work,” explained Carlos Corberán. Valencia has conceded seven or more goals in a single La Liga match for the eighth time in its history. However, Montjuïc was the first time away from home since March 1955, on that occasion they lost 7-0 to Alavés. “I feel anger and disappointment. We must apologize to all the people who came to see us and to those who followed us from home,” said Gayá, and added: “We were not up to par with the game or the shirt we represent. We were on an upward trend and today we have taken a huge step backwards. That’s the reality. Now we have to get up for the next game.”
Corberán was categorical: “Nothing went as planned.” Flick, however, despite his team’s overwhelming performance, was critical. When Hugo Duro scored 1-5, he did not celebrate. The forward understood the context, but Flick got angry with his boys after the stoppage time. Not even Lewandowski’s sixth goal could erase the German coach’s bitterness. Since the classic, when Barça beat Madrid 0-4 at the Bernabéu, the team has not managed to keep a clean sheet. “Do you consider yourself a cruyffist? “Do you prefer to win 5-4 than 1-0?” Flick was asked. “Yes,” he replied. However, he added: “Today I asked them to keep a clean sheet.”
Flick’s request carried particular weight. He decided to relegate Iñaki Peña in goal, also in the League. “We have never lost with Szczesny in goal, and for me that is very important,” he commented on the Pole’s five games as a starter: one in the Cup (4-0 against Barbastro), two in the Super Cup (2-0 against Athletic and 5-2 against Madrid), one in the Champions League (5-4 against Benfica) and the league debut on Sunday (7-1 against Valencia). “It is not the best situation for Iñaki Peña, but this is football. I made the decision in consensus with my technical team, and we are satisfied. “It all depends on performance,” concluded Flick. The German also highlighted his admiration for Gavi: “I was going to take him out, but he told me to put Pablo Torre in because he needed him more. “It seemed like a top gesture to me.”
