‘There is much more intensity’ – UE Olot coach compares Flick and Koeman’s Barcelona

Barcelona played their first game under new manager Hansi Flick on Thursday as they took on UE Olot in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Ciutat Esportiva complex.

The Catalans prevailed 1-0 winners thanks to a second-half strike from Pablo Torre, with youngsters like Marc Bernal and Marc Casado making an impression during the match.

Olot coach full of praise for Flick’s Barcelona

After the game, Pedro Dolera, the manager of UE Olot, spoke to the media and heaped praise on Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, particularly highlighting the team’s physicality and intensity.

“It reminded me a lot of the Barça side we’ve always played, with a 4-3-3 formation and very intense pressing. On a physical level, I’ve seen them with a level of demand that they didn’t have in other years,” said Dolera as quoted by SPORT.

The Olot coach also had words of praise for Flick and the way he conducted himself, saying: “Flick is a very kind person. Yesterday he was very calm, observing a lot. Above all, he wanted to influence a lot with the pressure.”

Olot had previously faced Barcelona under Ronald Koeman in 2021 and Dolera insisted that there was simply ‘no comparison’ between the two teams, stating that Flick’s side showed much greater intensity.

“I remember the match against Koeman’s Barça and there is no comparison. There is much more intensity,” he said.

“The game reminded me of the usual Barça. They raised the level of pressure all over the pitch. In the first half, the best player was Vitor Roque. He created difficult situations for us to defend,” Dolera further remarked.

“In the second half, Marc Bernal and Marc Casado. They were able to give them the speed on the ball that they were lacking.”