At the press conference ahead of Sunday’s La Liga away game against Levante, where Barcelona will be looking to defend their place at the top of the table after winning their opening four matches, Hansi Flick was full of praise for his players. He was particularly enthusiastic about Pau Cubarsí when asked whether this was the most balanced squad he has had since arriving in the summer of 2024.
“Yes. When I look at the team that takes the field in every game, I think the squad is better than it was last season. We talk a lot about the attack because we score so many goals, but for me, the defense is very important too. I see everyone performing at a fantastic level. Rodri and Bernal are doing a very good job, while Gavi and Pedri have been outstanding in the No. 8 role. And since the World Cup, Cubarsí has been fantastic — he’s playing at a different level. I’m very happy with him,” Flick said of the young center-back.
Flick went on to explain why he has been so impressed with Cubarsí, who was named the Best Young Player at the World Cup, which he won with Spain.
“He has confidence and he’s much more focused on his physical condition. He has improved physically, especially for his position, and he’s been fantastic with the ball. He’s helping us enormously and playing very well, whether he’s alongside Christensen or Gerard Martín. And we shouldn’t forget our No. 1 either — Joan García is doing a fantastic job.”
Finally, the German coach stressed that if Barcelona want to compete for every trophy, their players need to take care of themselves even between matches and make the most of their recovery time.
“Nothing has changed compared to the last two years. This year, we want to win the Champions League — that’s our objective — but winning La Liga is also very important. Winning it three years in a row would be incredible.
“What I expect most is that we maintain the right habits in training and stay in good shape — eating well and getting enough sleep. We have to take care of our bodies and our minds. Sometimes it’s good to relax a little, too. We support the players in that. We have experts who know exactly what they’re doing, and we have the infrastructure to help us improve.
“We still need to make improvements to the facilities, and that’s important. You’ve seen the new gym. I hope it will be finished soon. That will give us more space indoors. Everything is aimed at helping the players improve.”