Barcelona coach Hansi Flick insisted that none of his gestures during the dramatic 2-1 victory against Girona in LaLiga on Saturday were directed at the referee, after being sent off in the tense final of the match. Flick received a yellow card in stoppage time, apparently for applauding referee Jesús Gil Manzano, and was then immediately cautioned with a second card for his reaction to the warning.
- The Barça match was interrupted in protest against the match in Miami.
- The protests for the LaLiga match in Miami are positive, according to Alonso from Madrid.
- LaLiga players stop the match to protest the Barcelona-Villarreal match in Miami.
As a result of his expulsion, Flick will likely have to serve a suspension and will not be able to be on the bench for the next Clásico at the top of the table against Real Madrid. He could face an even longer ban if his celebration after Ronald Araujo’s winning goal in the 93rd minute, which came after his expulsion, is considered punishable. Flick ran back towards the field after the goal, making a provocative gesture with his arms, although he says it wasn’t directed at anyone.“It wasn’t a reaction for the referee.”
Hansi Flick
Flick said he tried to speak with Gil Manzano, but the referee did not want to talk. “I tried to tell him something, but he didn’t speak to me,” she added.“For me, it’s football. It’s emotion. I’m not saying anything about the referee either. It’s his decision. I accept it. It’s not against him, the applause.”
Hansi Flick
The Barça had lost their last two matches, against Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla, before Saturday’s Catalan derby, but started well against Girona, taking the lead thanks to Pedri in the 13th minute. Girona equalized shortly after thanks to an overhead kick by Axel Witsel and could have scored more before halftime, while Barça was also close when a free kick by Marcus Rashford hit the crossbar. Barcelona improved in the second half, but had to wait until the 93rd minute to secure the three points when central defender Araujo, who came off the bench as an emergency striker, headed in a cross from De Jong. “Before making this change, I spoke with Ronald,” Flick said. “I told him ‘Do you think you can play like this?’ And he said ‘Yes'”.“That’s how it is. It’s okay. He goes his way. I accept it. He is the referee.”
Hansi Flick
“Ronald is very good in training in front of the goal. It was the feeling that maybe he could change this game.” Meanwhile, Araujo said his teammates laughed when he told them he would score as he was preparing to come on. “Everyone knows I played as a forward [when I was younger]. I think if I played as a forward I could score many more goals [laughs]”. Ronald Araujo“I am very happy for him. He always plays with all his heart for this club, for this team. It was incredible.”
Hansi Flick
“When the boss asked me about going in there, I had no doubt. When I was putting on the shirt, I said ‘If I go in, I will score a goal'”.
Ronald Araujo“Everyone laughed and then I scored. I work hard to be able to play, so I am very happy.” Barça returns to Champions League action on Tuesday, when they host Olympiacos, before traveling to Madrid next Sunday in LaLiga. The Flick team placed at the top of LaLiga with the victory over Girona, but Madrid will surpass them again if they win against Getafe on Sunday.
