The defeats against Bayern and Real Madrid have propelled Flick’s Barcelona into the pools of the favorites to win the Champions League. But the German coach prefers to put his feet on the ground. We are at the beginning of November and it is only the fourth day, the halfway point of the first phase. Too soon to think about the final at the Allianz Arena in Munich. “Win the Champions League? We still have to work a lot for that. In the end, it is better to train hard and not talk so much,” he recommended to his players.
Flick’s message is clear. To be able to dream and aspire you have to earn it on the field. At the moment, he doesn’t even look at the classification. “In this new format of the Champions League, the important thing is to win. The victory against Bayern changed the scenario a lot. But I don’t even know what position we are in because we’ve just started. The goal now is to be among the first eight when we finish this phase. I hope we can achieve it,” he said. So let’s get to work, he told his players.
I don’t care about the past, I care about the present. We cannot always compare with the past. “Our time is now”
The coach has managed to change many things in a short time but there is still one dynamic that needs to be modified: being able to win away from home in the Champions League. “I don’t care about the past, I care about the present. “We cannot always compare,” he announced. Although he is always demanding. “Now is our time, we want to be successful. Tomorrow is a good day (to win),” he said about the visit to Belgrade.
“A tough game awaits us. They have fast forwards and it won’t be easy. We have to be prepared,” he warned about the dangers of Red Star.
But I don’t even know what position we are in because we’ve just started. The goal now is to be among the first eight. I hope we get it”
Barcelona is fine-tuning its offside tactics a lot, although Flick declared that he is paying attention to the statistic that the rival has already fallen into the trap 99 times. “We try to play football and make sure the entire team is well connected. Our defenders are doing very well. Pressure is important because without pressure we don’t play as well,” he said.
And mentally my head went back to the second half against Espanyol, in which the team’s performance dropped. “I already told the team. Although I have also played football and I know what happens when you are winning 3-0 and everything seems easy. This is another competition, the Champions League, and everyone knows how important victory is. “I am always positive and we will play differently than in the second half.”
Since the coach arrived he has helped us a lot. We are practically the same but we are a stronger team. If we keep working like this we can achieve great things
“It’s true that in the second half of the derby we relaxed a little,” admitted Fermín. “The coach put pressure on us and I don’t think it will happen again,” he said about Flick’s touch.
For the midfielder, the coach “surely has a large part of the blame” for Barcelona’s great moment. “Since Flick arrived he has helped us a lot. We are practically the same but we are a stronger team. If we continue working like this we can achieve great things.”
The coach did not want to comment on the youth squad’s praise and once again praised the great atmosphere. “I have a fantastic team. Deco has done a magnificent job changing all the staff around the team. Working together has been very good for us. It’s a gem to see them play in training. It’s incredible. Not only the young people, but the older ones are doing a great job. It is important to be connected and to have a good atmosphere off the field, in the locker room.”
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