Hansi Flick expressed his satisfaction after FC Barcelona's victory against Rayo Vallecano in the team's last match before the break for international fixtures. Although he admitted it was not Barça's best performance, the coach highlighted the importance of the result: "It's very important to finish well with three points before the break."

Barça were unable to relax until the final whistle and had to work hard to secure the win and the German coach paid tribute to Rayo's performance wanted to acknowledge the level shown by the opponent: "They played a fantastic match," he said, adding that "we knew it would be a difficult game, and Rayo played fantastically even after having played on Thursday. I want to congratulate them."

The German coach also stressed the importance of dead ball situations in a tight match: "Set‑pieces are very important. We didn't play at our best level, but we got the goal and we won. With the international break ahead, Flick valued the upcoming period positively: "Now we have 14 days of rest. The players go with their national teams, and that's positive for them." Flick praised the performances of several players. Regarding Joan Garcia, he highlighted the goalkeeper's excellent run of form: "He is playing very well and I'm very happy for him."

He also compared the roles of Dani Olmo and Fermín López: "Dani can offer better control and is a threat near the box. Fermín is more dynamic and intense; we saw it against Newcastle, and we saw it again today. I'm very happy with both."

On Ronald Araujo, Flick emphasised the importance of regaining confidence: "It's very important for him to have consistency. He scored the goal and that gives him confidence. Everyone wants to play with their national team and take part in the World Cup, and he will return to the dynamic  with a positive attitude after the break." Finally, he stressed how crucial it will be for players to return in good condition after the international window: "It's important that everyone comes back well after this period in order to face the objectives of the season."

Força Barça