Hansi Flick Delighted by Barcelona’s Squad Rotation in Victory Against Mallorca

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick expressed his satisfaction after his decision to rotate the squad proved fruitful, leading to a well-deserved 1-0 victory over Mallorca in their ongoing LaLiga title pursuit on Tuesday, courtesy of a second-half strike from Dani Olmo.

With the Copa del Rey final against rivals Real Madrid looming on Saturday, Flick opted for a bold strategy, resting key players such as Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Pau Cubarsi, and Frenkie De Jong. His revamped lineup delivered a commendable performance that delighted him.

This victory propelled the treble-chasing Barcelona to the top of the LaLiga table with 76 points, leaving Real Madrid seven points behind with a match in hand as they prepare to face Getafe on Wednesday.

“I believe we played a solid match, creating plenty of opportunities to score additional goals and win by a more substantial margin, but I’m still pleased with the outcome,” Flick told the media.

“We must commend their goalkeeper, Leo Roman; he was exceptional and put in a brilliant performance. The entire Mallorca defence was impressive today, making our victory even more significant.

“I think we made fewer errors compared to recent games and overall our performance was strong. It’s my responsibility to manage the squad’s rotation, especially during a period when the players are worn out by a demanding playing schedule. Each upcoming match is crucial, and that will dictate our approach.

Barcelona will head into the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid on Saturday, followed by the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan next week, albeit without their star striker Robert Lewandowski, who is set to be sidelined for several weeks due to a leg muscle injury.

Following the Clasico in Seville, the treble-seeking Catalans will take on the bottom-placed Valladolid before facing Real Madrid again in a LaLiga clash on May 11 that could potentially determine the league title.

“Barça and Real Madrid are both prestigious teams, and it’s only natural that titles are contested between such top squads. We have two more encounters against them, and our aim is to secure both the cup and the league, which means we need to defeat them. It won’t be an easy task, but we must stay focused,” Flick added.