Hansi Flick was all smiles after his team secured a 1-0 victory against Benfica in the Champions League, even though they played with only 10 men following Pau Cubarsi’s red card.
Flick chose not to dwell on the setback caused by Cubarsi’s dismissal. Instead, he highlighted how well the team regrouped. “What happened to Pau is part of football. Everyone makes mistakes,” he said. He praised his players for their strong response, stating, “The most important thing is how we reacted. We defended well as a team, and that’s what counts. This victory feels significant.”
Despite being a player down, Flick noted that his team managed the game effectively. However, he remains cautious, acknowledging that Benfica is a strong opponent and they will need to stay alert for the return leg.
After the red card, Flick made a tactical decision to substitute Dani Olmo. He clarified that it wasn’t about Olmo’s performance; it was a necessary adjustment for the game. “I had to explain to Olmo that we needed to make a choice, and it was strictly tactical,” he remarked.
A special mention also went to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who delivered an outstanding performance. Flick noted, “Szczesny was fantastic today. His confidence grows with every match, and our defense has improved because of him. I always knew he could perform at this level; I see it in training every day.”
Flick’s decision to make Szczesny the starting goalkeeper this season raised some eyebrows, especially with Inaki Pena in the lineup. However, with each match, it seems to be a choice that pays off.
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