Hansi Flick guided Barcelona to their twenty ninth La Liga title on Sunday night time, watching on as Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres put Real Madrid to the sword in a 2-0 El Clasico win – all whereas carrying the burden of his father’s passing, which he had discovered about that very same morning.
Rashford’s curling free-kick discovered the far prime nook within the ninth minute, Torres doubled the lead 9 minutes later, and Barcelona wrapped up back-to-back Spanish championships by opening up a 14-point lead with three video games to play.
Earlier than kick-off, gamers from each golf equipment wore black armbands in tribute to Flick’s father. A minute’s silence was noticed. Then Barcelona went out and gave their supervisor the night he’ll carry for the remainder of his life.
“It’s been a troublesome day,” Flick mentioned in his post-match information convention. “It began within the morning and, effectively, I’ll always remember this present day. This morning, my mum referred to as me and she or he mentioned that my father handed away. And so I feel: Ought to I cover it or ought to I converse with my group? As a result of for me, it’s like a household.
“And I mentioned, ‘OK, I wish to get the data additionally to the gamers.’ And what they’re doing was unbelievable. I’ll always remember this second. I wish to say thanks to everybody, thanks for every little thing, thanks for actually combating. I actually recognize every little thing quite a bit. This is sort of a household.
“I’ve by no means felt a lot love as as we speak. It’s superb.”
His gamers celebrated each objectives by working to the touchline to embrace him. At full time, they threw him into the air.
Rashford: ‘If I used to be a magician, I might keep’
The night time additionally belonged to Marcus Rashford, who scored the opening purpose within the method of somebody making the perfect case for his future on the membership.
Torres was felled on the best fringe of the world by Antonio Rudiger. Rashford positioned the ball, regarded up, and curled a shocking effort over the wall and into the far prime nook. It was the primary free-kick scored by a Barcelona participant towards Actual Madrid since Lionel Messi in October 2012.
His mortgage deal from Manchester United expires this summer season. Barcelona maintain a €30 million possibility to purchase. Rashford’s reply when requested about his future afterwards left little doubt about the place he needs to be.
“I don’t know. I’m not a magician, but when I used to be, I might keep. So we are going to see.”
He additionally spoke concerning the free-kick itself, admitting he was not sure he was going to shoot.
“No, I wasn’t going to shoot. I wasn’t going to shoot after which… as a result of after I put the ball down I didn’t see the angles. I didn’t really feel assured it was going to be a purpose, so I used to be going to cross. However then everyone seems to be telling me to shoot after which I hyped myself up just a little bit. It was good I shot in the long run because it was purpose.”
The 28-year-old turns into the primary Englishman to win the Spanish top-flight title in 41 years. He has scored 14 objectives and registered 14 assists since becoming a member of on mortgage final summer season, and whereas Manchester United have made clear they haven’t any intention of reintegrating him into their squad.
On his time on the membership general, Rashford added: “It’s actually good. I come right here to win. So that is – I wish to win as many issues as I can. So, that is yet one more so as to add to this. Yeah, this group is an excellent group. They’re going to win a lot sooner or later as effectively. So, to be part of that will be particular. So we are going to see.”
Pedri: ‘We wished to do it for Flick’
Pedri, voted man of the match, was additionally clear concerning the motivation behind Barcelona’s efficiency. The Spain worldwide was seen dictating play in his traditional vogue and establishing Torres for the second purpose alongside Dani Olmo’s good backheeled help.
“This tastes like glory, we wished to win it in El Clasico for historical past. We performed an awesome recreation and now we now have to have a good time, which you don’t get day by day. We wished to do it for Flick, for every little thing he has given us and for the loss he has had.”
Gavi additionally spoke after the ultimate whistle, addressing his on-field exchanges with Actual Madrid captain Vinicius Junior, with whom he clashed on a number of events all through the sport.
“I’ve advised Vinicius to close up. I’m a hot-headed participant, so is he. However what occurs on the pitch stays on the pitch. It’s soccer.”
De Jong, who got here on as a second-half substitute, spoke with one eye firmly on the longer term.
“All titles are particular, this yet one more since you win it at residence towards Madrid. Hansi is essential, he has very clear concepts and provides us lots of freedom to point out our high quality.
“Each title you win must be celebrated in type, and much more so La Liga. In fact we wish to win the Champions League, that’s the target and subsequent yr we’ll have a brand new alternative.”
100 factors & Champions League ambitions for subsequent season
Flick himself was fast to look forward even amid the emotion of the night. Barcelona can but end the season with 100 factors in the event that they win their remaining three fixtures towards Alaves, Actual Betis and Valencia – a tally solely Actual Madrid in 2012 and Barcelona in 2013 have beforehand achieved.
“We wish to attain 100 factors. It’s nonetheless attainable. That is the following purpose. We wish to give extra for this membership. We wish to attain the following stage. And I do know everybody in Barcelona needs to win the Champions League. Hopefully, we are able to obtain this purpose. That is at all times what I need, to combat on your desires. I feel we now have extra desires. That is good for the following season.”
For Actual Madrid, the distress goes on. A second consecutive season with no main trophy is confirmed. Jude Bellingham had a purpose dominated out for offside within the second half in what amounted to a irritating cameo that summed up a wretched marketing campaign.
Supervisor Alvaro Arbeloa, who’s extensively anticipated to get replaced this summer season, congratulated Barcelona and mentioned his facet would be taught from what had occurred. Jose Mourinho continues to be linked with a return to the Bernabeu.
