Flick Praises Team's Mentality After Thrilling Comeback Victory Over Benfica

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick credited his team's mentality for their thrilling 5-4 comeback victory over Benfica on Tuesday, which secured their place in the Champions League last 16.

Following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Getafe in La Liga, Barcelona found themselves trailing 3-1 at halftime after Benfica's Vangelis Pavlidis scored a hat trick, capitalizing on some careless defending by the visitors.

Despite being down 4-2 late in the match, Barcelona rallied with goals from Robert Lewandowski, Eric Garcia, and Raphinha to complete the comeback.

"It was an incredibly wild game. The most positive takeaway was our mentality. We came back, and that’s a wonderful feeling. That’s football, and that’s why we love it," Flick told Movistar.

"I don't think I've ever witnessed a comeback like this; it’s unbelievable. We didn’t perform well in the first half. They played excellently and took the lead.

"They forced us to defend deeply, and we weren't positioned right. However, we improved in the second half, and the substitutions made a significant impact."

Flick's choice to start goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny instead of Inaki Pena initially seemed risky, as Szczesny made two errors leading to Benfica goals in the first half. However, Flick stood by his decision, stating that the 34-year-old performed better after the break.

"Which player is free from making mistakes? It’s normal. Szczesny had some errors, but everyone struggled in the first half," Flick remarked. "We win and lose as a team. I was pleased with what I saw in the second half; he made a crucial save against Benfica."

Looking ahead, Flick emphasized the need to focus on their upcoming home match against Valencia in La Liga, where they currently sit third, seven points behind leaders Real Madrid. They will also face Atalanta at home in the Champions League.

"Victories give us the confidence to believe in this project and send a message to our younger players that we can and want to improve," he said. "It's crucial to concentrate on the Valencia game, and we also aim to beat Atalanta. We can't afford to relax."