Hansi Flick will be in for a special outing tomorrow night as his Barcelona team take on his former employers Bayern Munich in the league phase of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.
The German tactician has taken this Barça side to another level since becoming the manager in the summer and will hope that the progress can be demonstrated with a win against his former club, who are doing well under new manager Vincent Kompany.
On the eve of the game at Estadi Olimpic Llus Companys, Flick spoke to the media and touched on several important matters.
“We’re ready for tomorrow,” he said, kicking things off.
On it being a huge week for Barcelona with back-to-back games against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, he remarked:
“A lot of things can happen in matches and it can evolve in a way that we don’t expect. We just have to think about tomorrow, every game is important. During this time, it has helped us a lot to take it step by step and not think about the next game.
“Bayern are a team that plays very well, with extraordinary players. Anyone wants to play against the best, that’s why we play football.”
There were rumours today that Frenkie de Jong’s non-appearance against Sevilla despite warming up was due to some disciplinary issues. But Flick refuted those claims, saying:
“Our plan was for Frenkie to play against Sevilla, but he didn’t end up feeling well and we decided not to play him.”
Also confirming Eric Garcia’s unavailability, he said: “Except for Eric, everyone is available. I’m delighted.”
Regarding the rumours of La Liga moving Barcelona’s game against Atletico Madrid in December to Miami, he said:
“I am a person who lives in the present. This is very much the future. I don’t know the decision, but my focus is on Bayern.”
On the matter of Barcelona’s poor performances against Bayern Munich in the recent past, Flick added:
“As I said, it’s not about the past, it’s about the here and now. We can’t change what happened in the past, but we can change what happens tomorrow. We want to be well prepared and give our best. We want to beat Bayern.”
On how special the occasion will be for him, the German replied: “We prepare for every game by getting to know our opponents very well. Bayern are something special in my life, it’s an excellent club and I have a lot of acquaintances and relationships with players and managers.
“It was a great time, that’s my memory. But now there’s a new chapter, I’m delighted and very happy. I have a very good feeling being here. The fans accompany us with passion. This forces you to give everything. That’s how we’re going to continue, we want to be well prepared.
“I can get to know Bayern a little better, it will be a difficult match. It’s the Champions League and the best teams are playing.”
On whether Barcelona will continue their approach of pressing from the front against Bayern as well, Flick refused to give anything away, as he said:
‘If I say anything, I will give the opponent an idea. We have to keep the idea of how we want to play football. There are clear things that the team has to do. We don’t always do everything 100 per cent and that’s why we are trying to improve for the next game.
“It will be important to put pressure on our opponents. We will try to make as few mistakes as possible.”
Flick was the Bayern manager when they meted out the 8-2 hammering on Barcelona. Now that he is in the opposite dugout, the manager was asked if he sought revenge for that result.
Every day I feel the kindness with which people treat me. It has nothing to do with the past and nothing to do with promises for the future. The team has an incredible togetherness,” he said.
Praising the influence of the Barcelona acedemy and the camaraderie the squad shares, he added: “La Masia has a big influence on the way the players work. It’s beautiful to see the respect they have for each other, they all care about each other.
“If I think about the game against Sevilla and Gavi’s return, it gives me goosebumps. It’s important that we work hard and get what we want. The fans can trust us to give everything.”
Flick then highlighted the progress made by La Masia graduate Marc Casado this season, saying:
“He has made enormous progress in the last few weeks. In every game he performs very well. There’s no need to over-motivate him. He always wants to know what he has to do and what he has to improve.”
On if Barcelona have prepared in a different way to face his former club, Flick replied: “Every game has its special demands. They all prepare in different ways. We talk to the players. It’s not easy because there’s not much time, but I think we’ve done very well.
“Today there has been a lot of input, we have been training and seeing what everyone has to do and what Bayern will do. We tell each player what’s decisive.”
Concluding, Flick reflected on his first few months at Barcelona have gone and expressed happiness, saying:
“This is football and I’m not going to talk about private things. I am very comfortable, I love to see the passion of the fans. I have a very good feeling at the club. It’s a great club. Every day it’s fun to work here.
“People support me both at the club and the fans. It’s an obligation for me to win. We work to achieve that atmosphere and to keep improving it so that the players feel good, perform and can show their potential.”
