Hansi Flick has admitted he remains uncertain whether Raphinha will continue as Barcelona‘s central striker for the remainder of the season, despite the Brazilian’s impressive goal-scoring form during the 2-0 La Liga victory over Athletic Club.
Raphinha opened the scoring to take his tally to three goals in his first two matches of the campaign. The forward has adapted quickly to the No. 9 role, yet Flick suggested the arrangement may prove temporary as the season develops.
Speaking to DAZN after the match, the German coach praised Raphinha’s dynamism, off-the-ball movement and intensity as attributes well-suited to the central position. However, he stressed that Barcelona’s attacking system takes precedence over individual personnel selections.
“I do not know whether Raphinha will remain Barcelona’s No. 9 for the rest of the campaign,” Flick said, underlining that the priority is ensuring the team’s offensive strategy functions effectively regardless of who occupies the role.
Flick acknowledged that his side could have displayed greater composure while defending their slender 1-0 lead during the second half. Despite creating numerous scoring opportunities and dominating large periods of the contest, the Catalans required patience before sealing the three points.
Espart seizes opportunity
The fixture also provided a platform for Xavi Espart, who appeared on the left flank wearing his new No. 12 shirt following his recent promotion to the first-team squad. The teenager’s performance earned particular commendation from Flick, who admitted the display exceeded his expectations.
Flick highlighted Espart’s technical quality and tactical awareness in handling situations at both ends of the pitch. He described the youngster as a “fantastic player” with significant room for improvement, praising his ability to contribute defensively while maintaining threat in attack.
The manager’s positive assessment suggests Espart may feature regularly as Barcelona navigate a demanding schedule across multiple competitions.
Tactical flexibility
The victory maintains Barcelona’s positive start to the domestic season, though Flick’s comments indicate the squad remains in a phase of tactical experimentation. The clean sheet against Athletic Club provided defensive encouragement, even as the coach noted his team lost concentration at key moments while protecting their lead.
With Raphinha proving effective through the middle and academy products like Espart integrating into the senior setup, Flick appears to be building a versatile attacking unit capable of adapting to different opponents. The coming weeks will likely determine whether the Brazilian’s redeployment as a No. 9 becomes a permanent feature of Barcelona’s approach.