“The La Masia players did very well during the preseason, they deserved to play”
MADRID, 18 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said that he feels that Ilkay Gündogan will stay this season in a Barça team that beat Valencia (1-2) this Saturday at the start of LaLiga EA Sports, with several youth players who “did very well during the preseason.”
“It’s not a test, it was a very important match. Starting with three points is very good. The team deserved it for the second half. We had a pre-season that was not easy, without many players who had been in the Euros and the Olympics,” he said in a press conference.
“The young players at La Masia did well during pre-season and today as well. They have improved a lot since six weeks ago and they deserved to play today,” he added after the victory at Mestalla.
On the other hand, Flick was asked about the future of his compatriot Gündogan, who was not in Valencia. “On Monday he had that cut and we left him at home. I have spoken to him. I know him well, I like him and I have a feeling that he will stay,” he said, before answering about Lamine Yamal, assuming that it was normal for Mestalla to applaud in part the “quality” of the Euro champion.
“Lammine is a fantastic player. There are many things to improve today, but it’s the beginning of the season. We have to build confidence and these three points help. Today was a big fight, Valencia did very well, but we fought, it was a high-intensity match, and we deserved the three points,” he concluded.