Flick urges Barcelona to sustain intensity across two competitions
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Hansi Flick used his pre-match press conference ahead of Barcelona’s trip to Levante to set out the club’s season-long targets, according to MARCA. The Barcelona coach said the team want to win the Champions League while also pursuing a third consecutive La Liga title, presenting both as ambitions with much of the campaign still to play.
MARCA published Flick’s remarks on September 12, ahead of the fifth round of La Liga, with Barcelona preparing to travel to Valencia to face Levante. The German coach addressed rotation, individual form and the physical demands of a schedule that requires players to recover between matches.
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Flick said Barcelona must show their level in every match rather than take recent form for granted. He stressed the need to maintain mentality, focus and intensity, while also underlining the importance of continuing to improve.
Rotation, he said, is part of the game. Flick noted that he has two or three options in most positions and said players must accept decisions when another teammate is selected. His focus, he added, is on the next match rather than looking ahead in the schedule.
Flick described Levante as a well-structured side that played well against Real Betis and knows how to attack. He said Barcelona’s trip would be a match against a good team rather than a routine assignment.
On his own squad, Flick said Barcelona look balanced and have appeared better than last season in both attack and defence. He praised the players in the back line as well as Pedri and Gavi. He also said Pau Cubarsí has improved physically after the World Cup, highlighting the defender’s use of his body and his ability in possession.
Looking ahead, Flick linked Barcelona’s ability to compete on both fronts to training and recovery. He pointed to sleep, nutrition and specialist support as important factors during a run of matches every three days. He also said the club plans to improve its facilities, with a new gym expected to help the squad, while stressing that progress will come step by step.
