Fabregas Calls Flick’s Barcelona “Frightening” After Feyenoord Rout
Cesc Fabregas has described Barcelona’s current level under Hansi Flick as “frightening” after watching the Spanish champions dismantle Feyenoord 5-1 in the Champions League. The Como head coach believes his former club possess answers to every defensive challenge, from deep blocks to aggressive man-to-man pressure.
Key takeaways
- Barcelona beat Feyenoord 5-1 in their latest Champions League outing.
- Fabregas said Barcelona can escape pressure and create solutions from any area of the pitch.
- Como opened their Champions League campaign with a 4-1 win over RB Leipzig.
- Barcelona will host Como at Camp Nou on January 27 in the final league-phase round.
Fabregas sees a complete Barcelona
Fabregas watched Barcelona’s win over Feyenoord shortly before speaking following Como’s own emphatic result against Leipzig. He stressed that Feyenoord are a strong opponent, but said Barcelona’s quality can make capable sides appear far below their usual standard.
“I watched Barca’s match yesterday and I can tell you that Feyenoord are a very good side, but the thing is, Barca make you look bad because they find a way out of every situation at all times,” Fabregas said.
The former Barcelona midfielder highlighted the range of options available to Flick’s team. In his view, opponents have struggled whether they attempt to sit deep, press high or assign individual markers to Barcelona’s leading players.
“You can mark them man-to-man, as they tried with Rodri or Pedri, but they find solutions from all angles,” he added. “Whoever plays, they’re of a very high standard. It’s frightening – the level they’re playing at right now is frightening.”
Flick has drawn elite displays from experienced members of the squad as well as players developed through La Masia, with Barcelona’s depth and flexibility becoming major features of their recent form.
Como prepare for Camp Nou challenge
Fabregas is enjoying a significant European campaign of his own after leading Como to a 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig in the club’s Champions League debut. Even so, he acknowledged that matches at this level demand more than a single game plan.
“In today’s football, you have to be prepared for anything,” he said. “To be a complete team, you have to excel in many areas.”
Fabregas pointed to the changing demands within matches, arguing that teams must recognise and manage decisive phases rather than rely on one approach for 90 minutes. “There are mini-matches within the matches and you have to know how to handle certain situations, especially at these levels,” he said.
He added that some fixtures can be won by maintaining the same style throughout, while others require a side to control particular moments — an experience Como are still building in European competition.
That test will become especially direct on January 27, when Como travel to Camp Nou for the last round of the Champions League league phase. Como have made an impressive start on the competition’s biggest stage, but Fabregas will now have to find a way to slow the Barcelona side he considers one of Europe’s most formidable teams.
