Barcelona bounced back to winning ways on Saturday night after a tense 2-1 victory over Girona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
The game was filled with drama until the very last moments, and it was Ronald Araujo who emerged as the unlikely hero. Coming off the bench in the closing stages, the Uruguayan defender found himself playing in an unusual role up front and scored a stoppage-time winner to seal all three points for the Catalan giants.
According to Diario AS, Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick revealed after the game that his decision to use Araujo as a makeshift striker was not planned but came out of necessity, with both Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres unavailable due to injury.
Flick explained that he had spoken directly to Araujo before sending him on and asked if he felt comfortable playing in that advanced position. The defender responded confidently, saying he could handle it, and Flick trusted his instincts. “I asked him before he came on, do you think you can play in this position? He said yes. I’m very happy with his goal, he always plays with his heart,” Flick said proudly.
The German coach also made some surprising tactical decisions during the game, most notably substituting Lamine Yamal and Pedri just after the hour mark when the score was still level at 1-1. Many fans questioned the decision, but Flick clarified that his intention was to protect his players and think long-term. “Lamine and Pedri’s situations were clear.
We have to take care of the players,” he explained. He added that other key players like Toni and Fermín López were also on managed minutes. “Toni played the first 45 minutes and he’s good for us. We have made the right strategy for this match. Fermín could only play 45 minutes. If you are convinced of what you have to do, you have to do it,” he emphasized, defending his cautious approach.
However, Flick’s evening was not without controversy. The Barcelona manager was sent off after receiving a second yellow card from referee Jesús Gil Manzano. Speaking after the match, Flick expressed confusion and frustration over the decision, insisting he did nothing wrong. “I didn’t do anything against anyone.
I applauded de Jong on the first card, and on the second, I don’t know why he gave it to me. I would never do anything against anyone,” Flick said. He clarified that his clapping was meant to encourage his players, not to show dissent toward the referee. Despite the frustration, Flick accepted the referee’s authority, saying, “He didn’t want to talk to me, he left and I accept it. He’s the referee.”
Flick also commented on a few key moments in the game, including a possible penalty that was not awarded to Barcelona and a disallowed goal from Pau Cubarsí.
While clearly disappointed, Flick maintained his composure and respect for the officials, stating that “the referee makes his decisions and we have the VAR.” Overall, despite the challenges, Flick was pleased with his team’s fighting spirit and praised Araujo’s passion and leadership for delivering a crucial late win.
