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Hansi Flick, Barcelona's manager, gave his insights ahead of their crucial La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid on Saturday night Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
The German coach, who will serve the last match of his suspension during this fixture, praised the remarkable form of Atletico and their manager Diego Simeone but insisted that Barcelona are geared up for a win.
"It's a high point for everyone. They've won 11 straight matches. It'll be a tough, but beautiful game. We're ready," Flick stated, acknowledging the challenge but confident in his squad's preparation.
With Lamine Yamal sidelined due to injury, Flick mentioned, "We have to accept he won't be playing. We have different options, and we'll decide by tomorrow."
Reflecting on their recent performance against Dortmund, Flick emphasized the need for continuous intensity, "We did well from the start against Dortmund, and we need to do the same tomorrow. Atletico score a lot in the final minutes, so we must be prepared from the beginning to the end."
With the year drawing to a close, Flick sees this game as a pivotal moment, "It's the end of the year, a big match against one of the best teams. Today is the 20th of December, and we're top of La Liga and second in the Champions League. We've dropped points against Las Palmas and Leganes, which we need to recover.
"The team that makes fewer mistakes will win. Tomorrow is another battle. We have a young squad, and we must fight and improve. We aim for great things, but we know it won't be easy. We start that fight tomorrow against top teams."
Flick also spoke about giving his players some rest, "I gave them two days off this week as they hadn't had a break in weeks. Everyone needs it. The training sessions yesterday and today were good. It was the right decision."
Talking about his counterpart, Flick expressed admiration, "Simeone has managed over 700 matches with Atletico, which is incredible. He's done a fantastic job, and I respect him a lot. I like how passionate he is, and his team reflects that. But tomorrow, we want to win."
With Andreas Christensen out, Flick confirmed, "He won't be in the squad, but everyone else is available."
Addressing the team's recent struggles, Flick remained optimistic, "Everyone in the city and the fans know what this team is capable of. We've lost five key players, but with Dani Olmo and Pau VÃctor, we've improved. We're not happy with where we are, but we'll fight until the season's end. We want to win titles, but we know it's not easy. We aim to win, and that's what we'll do tomorrow."
Lastly, regarding his decision to substitute Robert Lewandowski in a previous game, Flick reflected, "You might think differently looking back, but decisions are made in the moment. Ferran did well. You can debate if it was right or not, but our job is to make those calls."
This match promises to be a showcase of strategy, resilience, and football at its finest.
