According to Barcelona’s coach, the match would not have been so difficult against Albacete if they hadn’t wasted so many opportunities.
Barcelona has been struggling with finishing recently, missing numerous chances. In their latest match against second-tier side Albacete, they had to fight hard for the win because of this. To address the issue, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has urged improvement in finishing.
The Spanish champions won 2-1 in the Copa del Rey quarter-final on Tuesday.
Had Barcelona converted just a few of the chances, they wouldn’t have paid the price of nearly letting Albacete equalize in added time. Gerard Martin saved the day with a header from the goal line.
Barcelona dominated possession on the opponent’s pitch, holding the ball for over 73% of the match and taking 17 shots at goal, seven of them on target. Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, and Ferran Torres wasted numerous opportunities. After the match, Flick expressed his disappointment.
“It was a tough match, and I think we could have made it much easier. We missed a lot of chances. We were dominant in both halves, although we struggled a bit defensively towards the end. I think the win was deserved. I am happy and proud of the team. We are in the semi-finals, and that is the most important thing.”
“Playing cup matches is always difficult. We created many chances and need to make better use of them. In the end, the result is fair. It was a close match, but overall, I believe the victory was deserved, although we should have taken our chances more efficiently.”
Amid the forwards’ missed opportunities, Barcelona captain Ronald Araújo scored a brilliant header. Flick believes the goal is very meaningful for the defender, who is gradually regaining his rhythm after a difficult period.
“He is progressing step by step, and that’s important. This goal will boost his confidence and help him feel better about himself. We support him and stand by him. He was tired towards the end, but he played a good match and scored an important goal for himself and for us.”
