Barcelona’s manager Hansi Flick has sent a message to their Champions League contenders, indicating that his squad is still on the path to improvement, despite their emphatic 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
The Catalan giants have taken a significant step towards the semi-finals with this comprehensive first-leg win at the Olympic Stadium, putting them in a commanding position against last year’s finalists.
Leading the competition in goals with 36, Barcelona’s formidable attacking trio of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal continues to instil fear in their opponents.
“I aim to keep us progressing; today highlighted areas where we can better our performance,” Flick stated to the media.
“We will thoroughly review this match, and while I’ll commend the players for their efforts, there remain aspects that need refining.
“I’m very pleased with today’s result, but it’s merely the initial step.”
Raphinha scored his 12th goal in the Champions League this season, making him the top scorer in the tournament, along with providing two assists.
With a total of 19 direct goal contributions in Europe this season, he has matched the record set by former Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.
“I’ve always believed he’s an exceptional talent… the team relies on his dynamism,” remarked the coach.
Dortmund’s manager Niko Kovac expressed his disappointment with his team’s performance.
“It was a deserving loss (but) we could have scored a goal; we know the second leg will be quite challenging,” said Kovac.
“I remain hopeful, yet I must remain realistic… this is a significant deficit, and our chances of advancing are slim.
“We understand the task ahead is tough, but we need to nurture a glimmer of hope, as that will be essential for us to overcome the odds.“
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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