FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick spoke about the upcoming quarter-final match against Valencia CF, scheduled for Thursday at Mestalla.
“It will be a completely different game. We must give our maximum. We will press, and so will they. The atmosphere, the stadium, and the pace of the game will be different,” said the German coach.
Flick Avoids Refereeing Controversy
The Barça coach steered clear of recent Real Madrid comments on refereeing.
“Honestly, I don’t want to talk about it. That’s not how we do things, and I wouldn’t do it. Every coach and club has their reasons for speaking out. Referees have a very tough job, and we must respect them,” Flick emphasized.
The Importance of Dani Olmo
Flick highlighted Dani Olmo, stressing his crucial role in the team.
“He has proven his importance to us on multiple occasions. He is essential in midfield and attack, and he manages the ball well. However, we need to monitor his workload to keep him in top shape,” he explained.
Flick Reflects on Barça and His Future
As he nears his 60th birthday, Flick reflected on his time at Barcelona.
“I always dreamed of coaching Barça. It’s incredible. I love this city, its climate, and its food. But most of all, I love this club. Coaching this team is fantastic. The players have an incredible passion for football,” the coach revealed.
Squad Management and Rotations
Flick confirmed that Wojciech Szczęsny remains the starting goalkeeper, while also discussing the need for squad rotation.
“We have to manage the schedule. We play at 9:30 PM, we have to travel overnight, and two days later, we have another match. We must consider the workload and organize rotations optimally,” Flick concluded.