Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s manager, has lauded 19-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi, drawing comparisons to teammate Lamine Yamal. Cubarsi is also being considered for Spain’s World Cup squad this summer.
Flick’s remarks were made prior to Barcelona’s Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park. During the pre-match press conference, Flick steered the conversation back to Newcastle, despite much attention being on Xavi Hernandez’s recent interview.
Flick emphasized the challenge posed by Newcastle: “Newcastle plays well; they will press aggressively one-on-one and are quick in attack. We must defend with immense pride and courage. Both legs are crucial, as we learned from our Cup fixture against Atletico. We need to be vigilant, and we will be.”
He added, referring to the Premier League, “It’s the best league in the world, incredible. They possess significant financial resources and can make impactful decisions. However, we are equally strong and must play according to our philosophy, showcasing it to the world.”
‘We didn’t defend as a team against Atletico’
Despite winning four consecutive matches since their 2-1 loss to Girona, Barcelona faced significant scrutiny following a 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid. Flick acknowledged that Newcastle possesses players with similar characteristics to Atletico.
Reflecting on the Atletico match, Flick stated, “We discussed and analyzed that game very honestly. We didn’t defend cohesively as a team; some players underperformed defensively. In contrast, at home, everyone contributed to defending, maintained appropriate distances, and pressed effectively when required. Without applying pressure, defending becomes exceptionally difficult.”
Flick was also questioned about his team’s defensive issues, a concern that had also arisen during his tenure at Bayern Munich.
He responded, “How many goals did we score? I’ve been fortunate to manage two incredible teams, Bayern and Barca, and I enjoy every day. We also scored a lot of goals. Ultimately, defending is a collective team effort.”
‘Cubarsi can play at the highest level’ – Flick
Following their recent resurgence, Flick has prioritized boosting his players’ confidence. He praised the team after their victory over Athletic Club, specifically singling out Cubarsi for commendation.
Flick elaborated on the young talents: “Cubarsi, Lamine, Fermin, Bernal… their quality is incredible. Their performance in Bilbao was amazing. Watching Cubarsi defend… he even took a throw-in like a corner. In defense, he’s perhaps on the same level as Lamine, if not higher. He’s only 19 and capable of performing at the highest imaginable level.”
While Cubarsi, like much of Barcelona’s defense, has faced challenges this season due to collective team issues, he delivered two of his strongest performances in the Copa del Rey return leg against Atletico Madrid and in the recent match in Bilbao.
