Hansi Flick, the head coach of FC Barcelona, faced a double yellow card expulsion during a recent match against Girona. Consequently, he will be unable to lead his team in the highly anticipated El Clásico against Real Madrid.
Flick’s Gesture Explained as a Celebration
Following his ejection, Flick addressed his gesture of celebrating Ronald Araújo’s late winning goal with a provocative hand sign. He clarified that it was not directed at anyone and labeled it simply as “a celebration.” In comments to DAZN, he stated, “Football is about emotion for us. We expended a lot of energy today, more than we expected, but we achieved our goal.”
Match Overview and Expulsion Details
During the match against Girona, Flick received two yellow cards for protesting the official’s call for only four minutes of added time. The referee, Jesús Gil Manzano, cited Flick’s applause as a sign of dissent and noted his gesture of disapproval post-warning.
Barcelona’s Performance Concerns
Flick admitted that Barcelona did not perform well against Girona. Despite this, he recognized the importance of Araújo’s last-minute goal, which ended the match in a 2-1 victory. He expressed hope that this triumph would boost his team’s confidence for upcoming matches.
Player Insights and Debuts
- Lamine Yamal: Played 60 minutes after recovering from pubic issues, with plans to manage his game time carefully.
- Pedro González ‘Pedri’: Also played 60 minutes; Flick aims to limit his minutes due to fatigue.
- Toni Fernández: Made his La Liga debut, contributing the first half with fulfilling performance.
Flick emphasized the necessity of these performances and the morale boost from securing the win, especially in light of concerns over recent team dynamics and ball control. He noted, “Everyone celebrated this goal. We needed this victory to build our momentum moving forward.”
