Barcelona Manager Flick Expresses Thoughts on Champions League Draft: 'Only Difficult Matches Ahead'
At a pre-match press conference ahead of La Liga's clash with Las Palmas, FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick acknowledged the tough journey ahead in the Champions League knockout phase. Avoiding a grueling showdown with Paris Saint-Germain and a potential Clasico semifinal against Real Madrid, Barca found itself on the other side of the draw and will face Benfica initially. If they advance, their next opponents would either be Borussia Dortmund or Lille.
Flick anticipated a challenging match against Benfica, a team performing well in the league at the moment. He reminded the press of Barca's dramatic 5-4 comeback win at the Estadio da Luz in January, ensuring everyone understood the lack of easy opponents in this round.
Regarding a potential Madrid derby in the last 16, Flick expressed high regard for Real Madrid's strength and talent. He emphasized that Barcelona is currently in a good moment but acknowledged that it's a long and challenging journey until the end of the season.
Given both teams make it to the final, discussion of a potential Clasico decider at the Allianz Arena was downplayed by Flick, focusing instead on reaching the final as their primary objective. He dismissed any attention drawn to refereeing controversies, stating that everyone makes mistakes.
If Barca triumphs over Las Palmas, they will distance themselves from Real Madrid at the La Liga summit, leading by three points before Los Blancos face Girona.
Now, let's delve into the nitty-gritty of the Champions League competition:
FC Barcelona clinched their spot in the Champions League round of 16, evading the knockout phase play-offs. Their potential opponents in the round of 16 comprise teams that finished between 15th and 18th in the group stage standings, such as PSG, Benfica, Monaco, and Brest.
The draw for the round of 16 will take place on February 21, following the conclusion of the play-offs involving the ranked 15th to 18th teams[2][4]. The Champions League round of 16 matches are set for March 4-12, with Barcelona playing the first leg away and the second leg at home[4][5].
As the tournament progresses, the competition will proceed to the quarterfinals (April 8-16), semifinals (April 29-May 7), with the finale scheduled for May 31[5].
Flick mentioned Bayern Munich as one of the formidable opponents in La Liga, acknowledging their presence in the league despite their focus on the Champions League.
Atletico Madrid, another strong team, was mentioned by Flick in the context of the Champions League, highlighting their potential as challenging opponents in the forthcoming rounds.
When asked about his reactions to Bayern Munich's manager change, replacing Hansi Flick with Julian Nagelsmann, Flick expressed his respect for the new coach and wished him success in his new role.
In the discussion of potential opponents in the Champions League, Flick mentioned clubs like Manchester City and Liverpool, citing their strong performances in the league as reasons for their inclusion in the list of tough competitors.
Despite Barcelona's current position in La Liga, Flick highlighted the importance of not underestimating Las Palmas, warning his team to remain focused and prepared for any surprises during their upcoming match.
Regarding the possibility of Bayern Munich meeting Barcelona in the Champions League, Flick said it would be a thrilling contest, expressing his excitement if such a matchup were to occur.
