Zbigniew Boniek:
Barcelona’s elimination was due to Hansi Flick’s mistake
Zbigniew Boniek, Polish football legend and UEFA Vice President, believes Hansi Flick made a wrong substitution against Inter.
According to reports, the consequences of Barcelona’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League semifinals continue to be analyzed, especially in countries like Poland where all developments around Barcelona are scrutinized.
In the latest reactions, a prominent Polish football figure made interesting comments. Boniek, a legend of Polish football and current UEFA Vice President, sharply criticized Hansi Flick’s decisions in the second leg against Inter at Giuseppe Meazza.
Boniek questioned Flick’s decisions in an interview with Polsat Sport, particularly the late substitution of Robert Lewandowski, which occurred in the final minutes. He said: “It was clear Inter’s players were physically exhausted, yet Flick only gave Robert a few minutes.”
“I don’t understand this decision at all. Instead, he should have sent a central midfielder to strengthen the midfield or an extra defender. Ultimately, Inter’s third goal was scored by their central defender, who was left unmarked in the box.”
Boniek, former president of the Polish Football Association, criticized that specific substitution and also pointed out Barcelona’s lack of effective strategy in crucial moments: “Barcelona ruined everything. They played very good football, but simple mistakes cost them a place in the Champions League final.”
Boniek emphasized that football is not just about talent and beautiful play: “Football isn’t just about beautiful play. I insist that in many moments, you must be intelligent, cunning, and calculated. A youthful style alone is not enough.”