"He knows how to score and that’s good" - Hansi Flick praises Barcelona star after 2-1 win over Real Madrid
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has praised young star Pau Victor after the Catalan giants' 2-1 triumph over eternal rivals Real Madrid in a pre-season El Clasico fixture on Saturday (August 3). The forward was a standout performer, playing a crucial role in continuing Barca's unbeaten run throughout pre-season so far.
Victor was on song, scoring in the 42nd and 54th minutes to give the Blaugrana a 2-0 lead. Although Nico Paz pulled one back for Los Blancos (82'), Flick's side hung on for a solid victory.
After the game, the German tactician praised the 22-year-old in the most straight-forward manner possible, saying (via Barca Blaugranes):
"Three goals in two games [for Pau Víctor]? Not bad! He knows how to score and that’s good for a forward. We’ll see what happens, but the door to the first team is always open."
A product of Barcelona's Catalan rivals Girona's academy, Victor spent last season on loan with Barcelona Atletic, the B team of the five-time Champions League winners. He made the move permanent just two weeks ago, signing on for a reported €2.7 million.
Although he hasn't made a first-team appearance for Barca just yet, an opportunity seems to be on the horizon. He has been in impressive form through the pre-season, having scored a brace against Real Madrid and another goal against Manchester City.
After his stellar performances, Victor will likely become a rotational player in the senior side, serving as a back-up for Polish marksman Robert Lewandowski.
"It's beautiful to see what we do when we have the ball" - Barcelona manager Hansi Flick beams with pride after pre-season El Clasico win
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick commended his side's play on and off the ball after their 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in a pre-season El Clasico matchup.
Speaking after the game, the 59-year-old said (via Barca Blaugranes):
"I knew it was El Clasico and it’s a big deal to play against Madrid. But once again, when we defend too deep, it’s a problem, but when we did press we did well. The goal is to do it all over the pitch.
"The team has improved (from the game against Man City). Beyond the good defensive work and despite the issue of defending too deep at times, it’s beautiful to see what we do when we have the ball," Flick added.
The German also said that he was proud of the development of the young stars in the squad, such as Pau Victor, Marc Casado and Pablo Torre among others. He said:
"It’s fantastic to have footballers who are this good at 16, 17, 18 years old... It was a great opportunity for them to show what they can do."
Up next, Barcelona will take on Italian giants AC Milan on August 6.