The ex-national coach cheers with the match winner after the 4: 3 against Celta Vigo. On Saturday he could win his first title with Barca.
Hansi Flick stormed into the field immediately after the final whistle. And when the FC Barcelona coach had fallen around his neck after a few steps, he raised it up and did not let him go for the second. “That was one of the big comebacks today,” enthused Flick a little later. With the 4: 3 (1: 1) after 1: 3 deficit against Celta Vigo, the Catalans of their 28th championship came closer.
Barca is enthroned six game days before the end of the season with a comfortable lead over record champions Real Madrid. Even the 1: 3 during the week in the Champions League near Borussia Dortmund, the first competitive defeat after 24 games, did not get the star ensemble around Youngster Lamine Yamal from the way – because it demonstrated great morality.
In injury time, the Brazilian Raphinha (90.+8) had transformed a penalty to the acclaimed victory. The favorite was initially in the lead by Ferran Torres (12th) before the former Leverkusener Borja Iglesias (15th, 52nd, 62nd) scored three times in a row for Vigo. But then Barcelona turned up: The former Leipzig Dani Olmo (64th) and Raphinha (68th) made it clear before it became dramatic in the final phase.
Flick did not look at the crucial penalty. “I kept my fingers crossed and was very happy to see the people,” said the former Bayern coach and added to Raphinha, whom he had spoken out during the break: “I told him that we needed him and he did it great. It was an incredible comeback.”
The former national coach reaches for the triple in his first season in Barcelona. The first title waves to the Champions League semi-finalists on Saturday (10:00 p.m./DAZN) in the final of the Copa del Rey against Archrival Real. It is open whether striker Robert Lewandowski will be there. The former Bundesliga attacker had to be replaced in the 78th minute. “We have to wait for the tests, speculation is pointless beforehand,” said Flick.