Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was full of praise for his players for their impressive 3-2 win over Real Madrid to win their 32nd Copa del Rey trophy.
Jules Kounde scored an extra time winner after regulation time ended 2-2 to give Barcelona a deserved victory.
Flick’s men dominated proceedings in the first half but they could only take a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to a strike from Pedri.
Real Madrid improved in the second half as substitute Kylian Mbappe rifled in a free kick in the 70th minute to make it 1-1.
Seven minutes later, Aurelien Tchouameni gave Real Madrid a 2-1 lead with a well-placed header from Arda Guler’s corner.
Ferran Torres made it 2-2 in the 84th minute following a superb pass from Lamine Yamal.
Both sides failed to find the winner in regulation time to take the game into extra time.
Jules Kounde scored a screamer in extra time to give Barcelona a 3-2 win which earned Hansi Flick his first major trophy for Barcelona.
In the last moments of the extra time, The trio of Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vasquez, and Jude Bellingham were sent off for Real Madrid.
Hansi Flick became the second Barcelona manager to win his first three matches against Real Madrid after Pep Guardiola.
The German manager showered encomiums on his players for their hard-working performance against Real Madrid.
Flick said: “It has been a simply perfect night. I am very proud. For me, it’s amazing what they are doing, how they fight. I really appreciate what they do, that they never give up. I think everyone, the club, the fans, are proud of this team.
“To win a title in a game like the Clasico against Real Madrid is always special. I’m happy for my players and for the thousands of fans who were in the stands, they deserved this title.
“Now we must celebrate and then the objective must be to recover, recover and recover. The treble is an option, but we have to keep working.”
Barcelona are on course for an historic treble as they currently top the La Liga table while they are also in the Champions League semi-finals.
Flick has attributed the team’s incredible form to the attitude of his players.
He said: “At the beginning of the season I said I was here, with my assistants, to create a good atmosphere in the dressing room.
“I wanted to show them they could enjoy the game and that they could play at the highest level. I think creating that atmosphere in the dressing room is important and key.
“It gives a lot of confidence. This is a matter of everybody. The staff, the players… They have a fantastic mentality. If you look at how they came back from the game, the ability to think is positive to turn it around.”
Up next for Barcelona is a Champions League semi-final clash against Inter Milan at home on Wednesday.
