Pau Cubarsí, the future of Barça who is not afraid of a final against Real Madrid

At 18 years old, Pau Cubarsí has established himself as the central defender of the future for FC Barcelona and Spanish football. Indispensable for Hansi Flick, the defender continues to surprise week after week with his quality and personality at such a young age. Entering the crucial stage of the season, the player has given an interview to 'Mundo Deportivo' in which, in addition to discussing his goals and ambitions, he made it clear that he would sign for a final against Real Madrid in the Champions League and sent a warning to Atlético de Madrid.

"Now the season begins, I would tell you, because it is the key moment, where you risk everything. We need to be one hundred percent focused and we are alive in everything. We have to keep it up. We have a good dynamic, so we hope to continue," the academy player began saying regarding the team's great moment, which has established itself as one of the top candidates to win all titles.

"Now the season begins. It is the key moment, where you risk everything"

However, the player, aware of the twists and turns of football, assured that "we have to take it game by game, calmly, but if we do things right as we are doing, we can aim for titles. In that sense, when asked which trophy he sees as closest to lifting, the defender stated that "I wouldn't say the most accessible because all are difficult to win, but the one we are closest to, I would say is the Copa del Rey, because it is a single match and you can get into a final".

Cubarsí's relationship with Flick

Regarding Hansi Flick's influence on his game, Cubarsí admitted that "he has a playing system similar to ours. This year we have played with a high line for offside, but I think it is a very good philosophy. We are adapting well and I think he is a great coach who helps us a lot".

On the difficulties of playing with such a high line, the footballer revealed that "it requires concentration. If the back four line is focused, everyone knows what they have to do, it is an easy way, but if you have a day when you are not so focused, it can be more complicated".

When asked about Flick's physical demands on the squad, Cubarsí maintained that "I always see that I have to improve. Both physically and technically as well. There is always room for improvement. But in terms of physicality, the training sessions are also physical. He likes hard work, so you have to train at your maximum to play at your maximum".

This eagerness with which the defender approaches every training session and every match played a trick on him in the match against Red Star, where a player from the Serbian team delivered a hard kick to his face, leaving him with a scar on his cheek. Regarding this, Pau commented that "it is a badge of honor because it has already happened. It was a play of the game. Fortunately, it turned out well, but I always try to give my all on the field and that is what I will continue to do".

The duo with Iñigo Martínez and the competition in central defense

About the solid duo he forms with Iñigo Martínez and the advice he receives from the veteran Basque central defender, Cubarsí confessed that "I have a good relationship with everyone, with Iñigo, with Eric, with Ronald... and I think we are all healthy now, except for Andreas. But the four of us have the level to play as starters and perform as you are seeing".

"We can rotate and we are all great players. We complement each other well. This year I have played more with Iñigo. We have done very well, but I think the four of us are also doing very well," he added.

"We have a great family within the locker room. Everyone wants the best for themselves, but also for the team"

The defender also spoke about the unity of the locker room, sending a strong message by stating that "we have a great family within the locker room. Everyone wants the best for themselves, but also for the team. And that is a very important thing. You have to go out 'full throttle' because you know that the teammate next to you also wants to play, so you have to give your all so that the coach can trust you".

The match against Atlético

Regarding the difficult match that Barça will face against Atlético de Madrid this Sunday, Cubarsí confessed that "we have learned to start the first 10 minutes and the last 10 minutes equally concentrated. I would tell you that more in these matches because it has happened to us before. So we have to go out and play our game but even more focused".

"In the two matches we have played against Atlético, they have always come out full throttle. It has happened to us twice that in the last ten minutes we had to be concentrated. We expect an Atlético that will come out at their maximum, that will run the whole match as is their style. We have to be focused for ninety or ninety-five minutes," he added.

The central defender, on the other hand, opted to clear balls when asked about the controversial penalty denied to Julián Álvarez in the shootout against Real Madrid in the round of 16 of the Champions League, stating that "I have always said that I don't like to talk about things outside of Barça, so I'm not going to touch on that topic".

A possible Champions final against Real Madrid

Regarding the possibility of facing the Madrid team in a hypothetical final of the continental competition, Pau asserted that "Madrid always does things well. We are also doing things well and I think we can meet in a final because they are a great team, we are too, so it would be a great final to watch. Although yes, Atlético is also in the league and can also be competitive".

The player, however, admitted that he would sign for that match against the Madrid team in the Champions League right now. "Of course I would sign for it. If we do a great job, we can reach the final. And if we are in the final, we will go all out no matter who the team is. And if it is Madrid, it would be a beautiful final for both us and everyone else".

The footballer also sent a message to those fans who might feel intimidated by facing Madrid at this stage of the Champions League, stating that "Madrid is one of the best, just like Barça. There has always been this rivalry. At any moment they can win or we can win, but it would be a great final to watch".

Lamine Yamal, his references, and doctor Miñarro

About the incredible present of Lamine Yamal, with whom he has shared a team since the youth ranks, Cubarsí stated that "now everyone is seeing what he is capable of doing, how he plays. But I have seen it for many years and it no longer surprises me. He is a good kid, a humble kid who just wants to work and we are very happy that he is with us".

The central defender, on the other hand, downplayed the possibility of being the team's captain in the future, as his priority is to help the team and lead the locker room whether he wears the armband or not. "I don't focus much on being captain or not. What I want is to stay here, help the club of my life, and be a leader, even if I don't always have the armband, it is important to be a leader and help your teammates," he commented.

Finally, regarding the painful physical departure of doctor Carles Miñarro, Cubarsí admitted that "for the team it was a blow because he was a very beloved person within the club, a close person. The truth is that we were very sad about his loss, but he would have wanted us to move forward and achieve titles".