BREAKING NEWS: Following the Catalan derby victory and Barcelona’s surge to the top of the table, Hansi Flick shared his delight over Barcelona’s star player’s incredible performance against Espanyol tonight. Flick admitted he’s truly at a loss for words to describe the player’s exceptional impact on the team!

Barcelona emerged victorious in the Catalan derby, defeating Espanyol 3-1 in the 12th round of the Spanish League on Sunday evening. This win has pushed Barcelona nine points clear at the top of La Liga, taking advantage of the postponed match between Real Madrid and Valencia. With 33 points, Barcelona strengthened its position at the top, while Espanyol remained at 10 points, hovering near the relegation zone in 17th place.

As reported by Spanish newspaper El Nacional, Barcelona’s German coach expressed great joy over this win and the team’s comfortable lead over Real Madrid. The coach is particularly pleased with the progress of young midfielder Marc Casado, who has been consistently proving his worth and becoming a key part of the squad this season.

After the match, the coach conveyed his admiration to Casado, emphasizing that he struggles to find words that do justice to the young player’s impressive performances.

Another standout in the derby was Spanish player Dani Olmo, who, despite a recent return from injury, has been impactful in every game, either by scoring or assisting. The German coach praised Olmo’s level of play, telling him that his performance guarantees he won’t be sidelined for any other player. Olmo’s reliable form has made him an irreplaceable asset for Barcelona, provided he stays injury-free.

However, the coach was not fully satisfied with the team’s performance. He reportedly voiced frustration with Alejandro Balde, criticizing his lackluster performance on both offense and defense. The coach urged Balde to improve his focus and work on his skills, warning that inconsistency could jeopardize the team’s success this season.

Barcelona President Joan Laporta made an unexpected visit to the locker room after the game. He spoke with the coach, requesting that young star Ansu Fati be given more game time, as Laporta still believes in Fati’s potential to regain his peak form. Laporta views the young forward as a possible future asset, should he return to his best.

In closing, El Nacional noted that Laporta also personally congratulated Dani Olmo, urging him to maintain his high level of play and help propel Barcelona back to the top of Spanish football.