Barcelona went into their clash against Benfica on Wednesday night with high hopes of clinching a victory in Portugal, but the situation seemed unfavorable.
FC Barcelona had to work hard to defeat Benfica 0-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match at the Estadio de la Luz in Lisbon.
The Catalans had to play most of the game with only 10 men after Pau Cubarsi was sent off in the 22nd minute. Hansi Flick made two tough decisions, which raised eyebrows from the fans and caused dissatifaction from the players.
Hansi Flick’s Two Difficult Decisions
One of the major decisions was to remove Dani Olmo, who might have played a significant role in the attack. However, Barcelona needed to bring in another defender to cover for Cubarsi. Thus, Olmo was replaced by Ronald Araujo.
Another problematic choice came early in the second half when Lamine Yamal was substituted with the game still locked at 0-0. The teenager exited the field solemnly and did not appear happy as he made his way to the bench.
However, as MD notes, Flick once again demonstrated his distinctive managerial style when he approached the winger on the bench, shook his hand, and briefly chatted to explain why his replacement was the best option for his squad.
Yamal has accepted the explanation provided by the Barcelona coach. So Flick may have averted one of his more vital players becoming disillusioned by his replacement, and his remarks will keep him motivated to aid his squad in the future.
