Flick hails Hamza’s brace as Barcelona battle at St. Andrew’s

German coach Hansi Flick praised striker Hamza Abdelkarim’s two‑goal performance as Barcelona fought to a 2‑2 draw with Birmingham City on Friday night at St. Andrew’s, only to be knocked out in the ensuing penalty shootout. The match, which saw the Blaugrana level the score after 90 minutes, ended in disappointment for the Catalan side.

Flick admitted the side struggled at times, especially in the opening half, saying they missed possession and made mistakes. He added, “We missed having more possession and made a few mistakes, but I’m happy,” noting a positive feeling and staff satisfaction with the young players. Flick also praised the academy graduates, saying it was most important they showed their quality and that he enjoys working with them.

Striker Hamza Abdelkarim stood out by netting two goals, earning Flick’s description of him as “very humble and has a great attitude… enormous potential.” Flick emphasized that a number nine must be in the right place inside the box, underscoring Hamza’s positioning. Summer signing Karim Adeyemi made his unofficial Barcelona debut, starting the game, and Flick highlighted his quality and short training period. The match finished level after 90 minutes, with the Blaugrana drawing 2‑2 with Birmingham City.

Reflecting on Marcus Rashford’s loan departure, Flick said he enjoyed working with him and that they will miss him. He welcomed new signing Anthony Gordon, describing him as eager to play for Barcelona and “on fire.” Addressing speculation on Ferran Torres, Flick confirmed he spoke with Ferran during the World Cup but the player is on holiday now and remains important for the club.

After regular time, the game proceeded to a penalty shootout. The Blaugrana were eliminated after losing the subsequent shootout.

When asked about signing another striker, Flick answered that the squad is only focused on the players they have now and he is not dreaming about anything else.

Flick concluded by reiterating his pleasure in seeing the young players respond in matches like this, emphasizing the importance of their quality.