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Hansi Flick hailed Barcelona’s dedication as they ended their four-match winless streak in LaLiga with a 7-1 hammering of Valencia.
Frenkie de Jong, Ferran Torres, Raphinha and Fermin Lopez all scored within the first half, with the latter twice hitting the again of the web to place Barcelona in management earlier than Robert Lewandowski and an personal purpose from Cesar Tarrega rounded off the demolition.
Barcelona scored 4 targets earlier than the twenty fourth minute of a LaLiga match (De Jong 3′, Torres 8′, Raphinha 14′ and Fermin 24′) for the primary time since October 2008 towards Almeria, additionally at residence. It was additionally the primary time they held a five-goal half-time lead since April 2015 towards Getafe at residence in LaLiga.
Flick was delighted with how his facet bounced again after their latest run and harassed the significance of his squad depth.
“The gamers confirmed contemporary legs. They had been within the sport and did an amazing job. I preferred my staff’s efficiency,” Flick instructed a information convention.
“It’s not an issue for me to have so many high quality gamers to select from. It’s good.
“Everybody was impeccable and really dedicated all through the sport.”
After 14 targets and 5 assists in 67 video games, Fermin scored and assisted for the primary time in a single sport for Barcelona in all competitions.
He’s simply the second Barcelona participant to be concerned in three targets earlier than half-time (two targets and one help) in a sport this season, after Robert Lewandowski’s hat-trick in 32 minutes final October at Deportivo Alaves.
Flick hailed Fermin, whose brace and two assists had been key to the win, saying: “He performed a unbelievable sport, he was superb on the ball, and he completed very nicely.”
The German additionally praised Wojciech Szczesny after the Polish goalkeeper was once more most well-liked to Inaki Pena after additionally beginning of their gorgeous 5-4 win at Benfica that booked their place within the final 16 of the Champions League.
Szczesny performed his first LaLiga sport as a starter, his fifth in all competitions for Barcelona. With this win, the Pole is the goalkeeper within the prime 5 European Leagues with essentially the most beginning video games with a 100% successful document (5).
“It’s a tough state of affairs for Inaki Pena,” admitted Flick. “We all the time evaluate what Inaki or Szczesny carry to the desk. It’s not a debate, they’re each good. It’s a sense… and we’ve got to decide. I believe it was proper for him to play.”
Barcelona subsequent face Atalanta within the remaining match of the league part of the Champions League on Wednesday, with their computerized qualification spot already sealed, and host Alaves in LaLiga on Sunday.
