Fermin Lopez opens up on goalscoring instincts, hails Flick’s impact on career: ‘Given me a lot of maturity’

Fermin Lopez opens up on goalscoring instincts, hails Flick’s impact on career: ‘Given me a lot of maturity’ Fermin Lopez achieved a significant milestone in his Barcelona career this week as he made his 150th appearance for the club in the win over Aston Villa. Having broken into the first-team squad during the 2023/24 season under Xavi Hernandez, the 23-year-old La Masia graduate has become a mainstay in the team. In his 150 appearances for Barcelona, the attacking midfielder has racked up a total of 38 goals and 35 assists, while winning five trophies. Fermin has taken his level up a notch since Hansi Flick took over the reins, with the goalscoring aspect of his game particularly impressing onlookers. Fermin opens up on his goalscoring abilities Now, in an extensive interview with Mundo Deportivo , Fermin has opened up on what it means for him to have achieved this milestone with Barcelona, as well as discussing his goalscoring ability, among several other things. “I don’t know, honestly I never imagined reaching 150 games with Barça’s first team, and I hope there will be many more,” the La Masia graduate started off. “My career will determine how many I can reach, but I hope to be here for many games. I’m very happy and very proud.” In his time with the Barcelona first team, Fermin has scored or assisted a goal every 108 minutes, which is highly impressive for a player who does not operate as a centre-forward. Talking about his ability to get into goalscoring positions regularly and find the back of the net, Fermin elaborated: “It’s something innate that I’ve always had. Since I was little, I think I’ve always had a good relationship with scoring goals, with the penalty area, with providing assists. “It’s always been part of my game, and I think that these last two years I’ve been able to do it much better and help the team more in that sense.” Fermin has 38 goals in 150 matches for Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Continuing, he added: “My main strength is my direct style of play. I’ve had that characteristic and that mentality of always going forward, towards the goal, thinking about scoring and creating scoring opportunities, ever since I was little. “It’s something I’m born with and that I keep improving over time, but what I would say is that I’m a direct player.” It was then pointed out to Fermin that in the current season, he was scoring or assisting a goal for Barcelona every 72 minutes, a much better average than his overall career. As such, he was asked if he had many particular changes to his game coming into the ongoing campaign. In response, he said: “Ultimately, with age you gain more maturity in your game, and I think I’m calmer on the pitch when it comes to deciding when to pass, when to make a run, when to shoot, and when not to. “And in the end, that’s reflected in the statistics and in how I contribute to the team. I would describe it as me maturing quite a bit in my game.” With 38 goals to his name, Fermin has exactly the same number of goals that the legendary Diego Maradona scored for Barcelona. “Well, in the end, they’re just numbers. I can’t compare myself to a player like Maradona, and everyone has their own path, but I’m also very happy to have equaled his goal tally. I hope there will be many more,” he said on the subject. When asked if he preferred to score or assist goals, the academy graduate replied: “I prefer scoring, to be honest. In the end, providing assists also helps the team; you set up other teammates to score, and it gives you that satisfaction of creating opportunities for the team. But I prefer scoring goals.” On Hansi Flick’s impact While it was Xavi who gave Fermin his break at Barcelona, the youngster has continued to improve under the tutelage of Hansi Flick. Fermin credits Hansi Flick for his development. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images) Discussing the impact of the German tactician on his career, the Spaniard explained: “I think I’ve improved a lot in terms of maturity on the field with Hansi. “Before, I was a bit too focused, sometimes rushing things, but with him, and also with time and playing matches, you gradually learn that. “I think with Flick I’ve been able to acquire that maturity to read the game, the moments, the plays, knowing when to act and when not to. He’s given me that, a lot of maturity in all aspects of the game.” Talking about his intensity and aggression on the pitch, which fits in nicely with Flick’s style of play, but creates concerns among the fans about potential injuries, he added: “Better to have too much than too little, right? I also understand how it looks from the outside sometimes, but I also see it as my way of understanding football, and I also know when to hold back. “Obviously, I hope I never get injured like that in a play or get sent off to put the team at a disadvantage. I try to control it, but my game is pure passion, and I try to give it my all. It’s something that defines me, but I try to keep it under control too.”