Hansi Flick said Barcelona must continue improving despite their 5-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the third round of La Liga.
The Catalan side produced a five-goal performance, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal both scoring twice. Rayo Vallecano defender also put the ball into his own net as Barcelona secured a convincing win.
However, Barcelona head coach Flick stressed that the result did not mean his team had reached the required level in every area.
“In some situations we need to improve, and we will do so,” Flick said after the match.
Flick’s comments followed a game in which Barcelona scored five times but still identified aspects of their performance that require attention. The German coach’s assessment made clear that the victory was important, but that the team’s development remains a continuing process.
Raphinha was among Barcelona’s main attacking contributors, finding the net twice, while teenager Lamine Yamal also scored a brace. The additional goal came through an own goal by a Rayo Vallecano defender, completing Barcelona’s total.
The result gave Flick’s side a strong outcome in the third round of Spain’s top flight. Barcelona’s performance in front of goal was the defining feature of the match, although Flick’s immediate focus was on ensuring the team becomes more effective in the situations where he believes improvement is needed.
Rather than treating the five-goal win as the end of that work, Flick indicated that Barcelona would use the match as another step in their progress. His message was that positive results must be accompanied by further development on the pitch.
Barcelona will play their next match on 6 September, when Flick’s team travel to face Valencia. That away fixture will provide the side with its next opportunity to build on the victory over Rayo Vallecano and address the areas highlighted by their manager.
For now, the result leaves Barcelona with a clear attacking statement from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, as well as the contribution from Rayo Vallecano’s own goal. But Flick’s response ensured the discussion after the match was not limited to the scoreline: the head coach also made improvement the central theme of his assessment.