FLICK SPOKES AT A PRESS CONFERENCE
Hansi Flick gives the keys to the clash against Girona and reveals if there will be rotations
Published:14/09/2024 - 21:04h
Updated:15/09/2024 - 08:36h
Hansi Flick spoke to the media at the press conference prior to Sunday's match against Girona. The German coach said that the match is "Champions League level" and confessed that he will not hold anything back at Montilivi
FC Barcelona are preparing to face one of the most difficult matches of the 'Hansi Flick era'. The team will visit Girona at Montilivi next Sunday, September 15 at 16:15 (10:15 CEST), in an extremely difficult match for the Catalans who were unable to beat the white-and-reds in the two matches last season.
In the run-up to the match, the German coach has left his feelings before the media in a press conference.
The keys to the match against Girona
"We have four consecutive victories and we want to continue on this path. However, we know that it will be difficult. It will be a tough opponent. Our quality is high and that of the opponent too. Everything will be based on seeing how we start the match," Flick began by saying in his appearance, later assuring that it is one of the most difficult matches that the team will face at the start of this season.
"It's a Champions League-level match. They did very well last season, but I've seen a lot of matches now and I'm impressed by what the coach is doing"
However, he assured that what happened last season between the two teams will not affect next Sunday's clash.
"We don't look at the past, we look at tomorrow. And tomorrow is an important day..."
"... Obviously I've seen last year's games and they're doing very well. Girona is a very good team with the ball, our performance in defence has to be 100%. We can't win if we don't give 100%. It's a Champions League-level game and we're really looking forward to it. It's a good test for the games to come. I'm really looking forward to playing tomorrow."
The great present of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha
On the 'plethoric' moment that Raphinha is going through, Flick said that "when we observe his evolution since last season, we see that he is at the top. He has a decisive role in all the games. Tomorrow it will be important for him to have that level, because it will be decisive. I love watching him. A player with his technique, with his experience, when he gives 100%... He's doing very well."
He also had plenty of praise for Lamine Yamal, although he made it clear that he still has room for improvement. "I think Lamine is at a very high level, but he can still improve and he has to improve. It's fantastic to see how he trains day after day, but he has to move forward, improve, train hard... Champions don't rest. I think that's the advice I can give him: if he wants to be a great champion, he can't rest too much. He has to keep going," he said.
Possible rotations on Sunday and Barça's unbeaten run
There has been much speculation about some variation in the German's starting eleven, since Barça will travel to Monaco next Thursday in their Champions League debut. Despite this, Flick made it clear that his focus is on Sunday's match.
"No, I'm not thinking about Thursday. I'm focused on tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day of the match and all my energy is focused on tomorrow"
Finally, he said that Barça's perfect start in LaLiga "has to do with the confidence of the players, the passion, how aligned we are with the idea of playing football. Our idea is to put pressure on the opponent and if we can score, do so. Every game is different. If we lose the ball, we win it back, create... in the last game we did very well. When you see the players, the performance, the relationship between the pitch and the fans... the players feel doubly motivated thanks to the fans."
