Over halfway into the season, Barcelona are having a good campaign and are well placed to replicate and even further last season’s achievements.They have already defended their Spanish Super Cup cro...
Over halfway into the season, Barcelona are having a good campaign and are well placed to replicate and even further last season’s achievements.
They have already defended their Spanish Super Cup crown and are in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey, where they also hope to defend their title.
Further, they are the leaders of La Liga and Spain’s most in-form team by some distance and also qualified for the knockouts of the UEFA Champions League without an additional playoff tie.
The team does have lacunae, but is finding ways to minimise its impact so far.
Flick speaks on Barcelona’s season
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo after being named the Best Manager of the Year in the recent Gala, Hansi Flick spoke on the team’s objectives and how they are on track to complete a great season once more.
“We have won the first title in the Super Cup. It was great against Real Madrid. But in the end, we are Barça, and we are fighting for everything. We have the opportunity to fight for every title and that’s what we want.”
Speaking on the elusive UEFA Champions League title that they have been denied for years and which the club hope to win under him, the manager said,
“As I also said last season, I think we are working to be better every day. We have to improve the small things, even the very small ones, in order to progress. That’s what it’s about and, of course, we also have options to win the Champions League.”
“It is a very big goal for us and we work every day for it. I know that the fans help us in every game. It’s a good combination, being all together, and that’s why we all fight for this great title,” he added.
Flick enjoying life at Barcelona. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
The coach then opened up on how he is enjoying life in Catalonia far more than he had anticipated, saying,
“Barça is even more than I imagined. From the beginning, I had the feeling that it was more than a family and it was like that from day one.”
“I really appreciated the first days and weeks, and now I’ve been here for more than a year and a half. It’s really amazing. The people here are very kind to us, so it’s fantastic.”
He then thanked Mundo Deportivo for naming him the best manager of the year and what it meant for him and his team.
“It’s a pleasure and I am very sincere in saying it. In the end, for me it’s always like this: I have a fantastic team. My players are doing very well, but so is the entire coaching staff around me.”
“We have a staff of about 45 people or more, and my closest coaches are very happy about this because they are all experts and I love working with them. They help me a lot. So this award is also for them,” he added.
Finally, he was asked which player he would ideally like to sign to further his project at the club, to which he provided a very mature and well-weighted response.
“Which player would I like to sign? It’s a difficult question because I think we have a fantastic team right now. Everything we do has to be smart.”
“With Deco, I have a great partner and we talk about everything. Each decision also takes into account the financial situation, but especially if that player can improve the team,” he added.
“If he is a good person, if he is a good teammate. That’s what we need: good people in this fantastic team,” Flick concluded.
Category: General Sports
