Barcelona kicked off their preseason preparations with a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City of the Championship at St. Andrew’s on Friday, and Hansi Flick was satisfied with what he saw.
The boss was especially full of praise for 18-year-old striker Hamza Abdelkarim, who scored both goals and showed a glimpse of his potential on his first team debut.
“Hamza is very humble and has a good character. He always tries to give his best and has great potential. As a striker, you have to show up in those situations
inside the box, and today he was there. That’s what I ask of a number nine.”
Flick also gave his verdict on the team’s overall performance, and praised the many young players from La Masia who got a chance to play on Friday.
“We missed having more possession and made a few mistakes, but I’m happy. The feeling is good, and the entire coaching staff is satisfied with the young players’ performance.
“The most important thing is that they have shown their quality, and I really appreciate that. It is a pleasure to work with them and see how they respond in matches like this, with this level of intensity.”
Barça will end their stay in England this weekend with a few more training sessions before returning to Catalonia on Monday.
