"We didn't play well with the ball, we lost possession too often, which is what Newcastle want. We knew that when they pass the ball, they are very quick. It wasn't easy, but I'm very happy with my team, especially the defence; we defended very well on the pitch."
"We've had a lot of games recently, and we've had players out injured. Bernal and Pedri haven't been playing. We need to improve, that's clear, but the positive thing for us is the result. After going 1-0 down, it was fantastic to come back and get a draw."
"We'll see a different Barcelona in the second leg."
Barcelona secured a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg at St James' Park. Newcastle's intense pressing and quick transitions created difficulties, particularly in the first half. Barcelona managed the match despite squad issues with key players returning from injury or still regaining fitness. After falling behind, Barcelona equalized and left with a result that keeps the tie competitive. Manager Hansi Flick acknowledged his team's possession problems and frequent turnovers, which played into Newcastle's strengths. However, he expressed satisfaction with Barcelona's defensive performance. Flick also noted the demanding recent schedule and absence of injured players like Bernal and Pedri. Despite the subpar attacking display, Flick remains confident Barcelona will perform better in the second leg at home.
Read at Barca Universal
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