Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has praised his team’s character after their dramatic 3-2 victory over Levante, a match he described as a true test of resilience.
The German coach admitted that his side struggled in the first half, with Levante defending deep and threatening on the counter. However, tactical changes at half-time proved decisive, allowing Barcelona to turn the game around.
“I’m proud of my team. We tried to come back and got three points; we believed until the end,” Flick said. “It’s not easy because our opponents usually play us very deep, and we have to improve in games with those approaches. This game will help us a lot to continue growing.”
The turning point came when Pedri scored Barcelona’s equaliser, a moment Flick highlighted as crucial in shifting momentum. “Levante defended very well. They have very fast players. In the first half, we created chances to do more. In the second half, Pedri’s goal helped us a lot,” he explained.
The win means Barcelona have collected maximum points from their opening two league games, with Flick noting the performance was stronger than their previous outing against Mallorca.
One of the game’s controversies was the penalty awarded against Alejandro Balde for handball. Flick questioned the decision but accepted the referee’s call. “For me, it wasn’t a clear handball by Balde. The play wasn’t clear. In the end, the referee analysed the situation and made his decision. We must respect that,” he said.
Flick also spoke about his tactical adjustments, particularly shifting Raphinha to the wing, which he believed changed the rhythm of the game. “The first goal changed the game,” he added.
With six points from two matches, Barcelona’s new era under Flick has started positively, with the team showing belief and determination.