FC Barcelona Coach Flick Responds to Champions League Draw: ‘Every Match Is a Tough Challenge’
Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s La Liga clash with Las Palmas, FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick shared his thoughts on the Champions League knockout stage draw, emphasizing that “only tough games” await his team in Europe’s elite competition.
By avoiding a Round of 16 showdown with Paris Saint-Germain and a potential Clásico semifinal against Real Madrid, Barça finds itself on the opposite side of the bracket. The team will first face Benfica and, if successful, will take on either Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the quarterfinals. A possible semifinal clash could then pit them against Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Feyenoord, or Inter Milan.
When asked about the road to the Munich final in late May, Flick acknowledged the challenge ahead, beginning with a “tough match” against Benfica, a team he believes is performing at a high level.
“We saw it there,” Flick said, referring to Barça’s dramatic 5-4 comeback victory at Estádio da Luz in January. “There are no easy opponents in this stage. Every match will be difficult.”
Addressing the Madrid derby in the last 16, Flick described Real Madrid as “very strong, one of the best,” noting that they have enough squad depth to handle the intense competition.
“At the moment, we’re in a good place, but there’s still a long way to go before the season ends,” he added.
As speculation grows about a potential Clásico final at the Allianz Arena, Flick downplayed the discussion. “First, we have to reach the final—that’s the goal. As for the opponent, it doesn’t matter. Benfica is a very strong team,” he stated.
On the ongoing controversy surrounding referees, Flick dismissed the idea of blaming officials for poor results.
“We’re always looking for excuses. It seems that when we lose, it’s because of the referees, but that’s not the case,” he remarked.
“We all make mistakes, including referees. They must be protected because the game cannot be played without them. Instead of complaining, we need to focus on improving our performance to win,” he concluded.
A victory over Las Palmas would see Barça move three points clear at the top of La Liga, ahead of Real Madrid’s crucial match against Girona on Sunday afternoon.
