Madrid — Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has heightened anticipation ahead of the team’s El Clásico clash with Real Madrid, stressing that the match goes beyond the battle for three points because of its exceptional significance in world football. He also discussed the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, emphasising the need to learn from mistakes, and praised the abilities of Rodri and Xavi Espart.
اضافة اعلان
Flick highlighted the importance of the highly anticipated meeting with Real Madrid, scheduled for today at Spotify Camp Nou in the 10th round of La Liga. He stressed that his team was ready and confident ahead of the showdown.
“Clásico is different. It is the best match in our sport, and everyone will be watching. It is unbelievable. Yes, we are playing for only three points, but the importance of the match goes far beyond that. We are happy to be part of this event and are eagerly looking forward to the game. We are ready and have great confidence in our team,” Flick said at his press conference.
Praising Rodri, the Barcelona coach highlighted the player’s abilities and impact on the team, expressing satisfaction with his performances.
“We were all convinced that he would develop when we had the opportunity to sign him. He has made a valuable contribution to the team, as was evident in his first matches. I am very happy to have him with us, and our midfield has great quality with him alongside Pedri,” he said.
Flick also addressed the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League, explaining that the coaching staff had discussed the reasons with the players and analysed the match to correct mistakes and improve performance.
“We did many things well, but there are areas we need to improve. This defeat is an opportunity to develop and grow, challenge ourselves and work to become a better team,” he added.
The Barcelona coach also praised Xavi Espart, noting that the young player had considerable potential and that maintaining his strong performances would depend on what he delivered on the pitch.
“We know how professional football works: performance is everything. He has delivered a wonderful display, which is remarkable. He has great potential and plenty of room to develop, and he is performing excellently at the moment,” Flick said.
He added that he expected to face a highly confident Real Madrid side in El Clásico, describing it as a great club with outstanding players and a top-level coach.
“Real Madrid have great quality, especially in attack, and have performed well in their recent matches,” he said.
Asked whether Barcelona had trained for set pieces, Flick replied: “Set pieces are one of Real Madrid’s strengths. They are among the best teams in this area. We discussed it today and worked on preparing for it. We have to defend better than we did in Paris.”
Flick also confirmed that Jules Koundé would not play the following day, saying the club did not want to take any risks with him. He added that Dani Olmo had been in excellent form and was fully fit, but had been unlucky and would miss several matches. Flick acknowledged that the situation would be difficult for Olmo, while noting that Barcelona also had Fermín available.
With debate over refereeing intensifying ahead of El Clásico, Flick expressed confidence in officials and stressed that everyone should protect their players rather than allow outside controversy to affect the atmosphere surrounding the match.
Asked whether the controversy could influence the referee appointed for El Clásico, Flick said confidently: “It will not have an impact. I trust the referees, and we are seeing good refereeing performances. Each of us has to protect our players.”
Flick also avoided joining the criticism directed at Real Madrid over its repeated comments about refereeing, saying he did not want his remarks to become fuel for media controversy.
“I prefer to focus on preparing my team. This subject is connected to newspaper headlines, and I do not want a sensational headline. All I want is to concentrate on my team,” he said.
Speaking about José Mourinho, Flick expressed great respect for the Portuguese coach, noting that his ability to manage clubs at the highest level over many years reflected his quality and experience.
“I have great respect for Mourinho. When someone manages teams at this level for so many years, it reflects his quality, which he has demonstrated at every club he has coached,” Flick said.
He added that he had visited Mourinho in the past and that German players who had worked under the Portuguese coach spoke highly of him. Flick described him as “a colleague in the profession and a wonderful companion.”
Asked how Barcelona would deal with the threat posed by Kylian Mbappé, Flick declined to reveal any specific plan for containing the French star. Instead, he stressed the importance of collective discipline and good positioning in both attack and defence.
“The most important thing is to position ourselves well on the pitch, with and without the ball, and maintain the cohesion of our defensive line. If we execute everything correctly, it will be easier for our back line to defend against attacks,” he explained.
Flick also praised the partnership between Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín, saying both players were in good form and developing together.
“Cubarsí and Gerard are in very good shape, and what they are doing is remarkable. They are developing together,” he said.
Mourinho: Past results count for nothing in El ClásicoMeanwhile, Real Madrid coach José Mourinho addressed the media ahead of the match, saying his team was going through a good period, playing well and scoring goals. However, he stressed that previous performances would have no bearing on El Clásico.
“We are going through a good period, playing well and scoring goals, but what we have done before counts for nothing in El Clásico and will have no impact. It is a completely different match,” Mourinho said.
Asked whether Barcelona’s 4–2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain would provide any lessons for Real Madrid, Mourinho said he did not believe losing one match would change a team’s psychological state or confidence. He added that the same would apply to him had Real Madrid lost 4–1 to Leipzig.
Mourinho was also asked whether he would devise a special plan to stop Lamine Yamal. He replied that all Barcelona players were good, just as Real Madrid had quality players of its own.
“He is a great player, and great players must be respected. But there is a difference between respecting an opponent and changing your plans and tactical structures or abandoning your identity. We will not do that against him or any other player with such exceptional quality,” he said.
Asked to comment on Flick, Mourinho said he did not understand questions about opposing coaches.
“He is a great coach and is doing excellent work. What do you want me to say?” he replied.
Responding to a question about whether Barcelona received excessive praise while Real Madrid faced disproportionate criticism, Mourinho said that people who had expected his team to suffer a heavy defeat a week earlier would continue to hold that view.
“People speaking positively about Barcelona does not affect me. It is not my concern,” he said.
Mourinho acknowledged that Barcelona deserved praise when delivering outstanding performances, but stressed that Real Madrid were still at the beginning of their project.
“We are viewed as a complete team, and achieving that in football is extremely difficult. But we have not reached that stage yet. We have worked together for only three months. During pre-season, players were joining every week, and then came the international break,” he explained.
He continued: “We are still in the early stages, with the coach getting to know the players, analysing their performances and identifying areas of work, while the players are learning his ideas. Therefore, I do not think it is fair to compare a team at this stage with another that has been cohesive for years.”
Asked whether his newly grown beard would bring him luck, Mourinho joked: “It is not superstition at all. Do I look bad with a beard? Should I change it?” He then said he was among the few people in football who did not believe in superstitions.
Mourinho refused to reveal details of his plans or starting line-up for El Clásico, telling reporters: “I will not answer that question. It is better to ask something else. I will not discuss tactics, players or the line-up.”
He also responded sarcastically when asked about his team’s defensive weaknesses and whether he might adopt a more attacking approach, telling the journalist: “You are clever, but I am not stupid!”
Source: Al-Ghad.
