Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick remains fully confident that his side can achieve great things this season despite their recent defeats against PSG and Real Madrid. Speaking ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League clash against Aston Villa, the German manager delivered a strong message, insisting that his team has what it takes to compete for every major trophy.
“I think we played at the same level as PSG and Real Madrid, and the results could have been different. But I don’t like looking too much at the past. I prefer to focus on the upcoming matches. We can make history, and we are working towards that, to win La Liga and the Champions League.
“It’s normal to focus on defeats or weaknesses. If I were in the media, I would do the same. But defeats don’t change anything,” Flick said.
The Barcelona boss also pointed out that his team had won 11 consecutive matches before those setbacks. He stressed that his attention is now fully focused on the Aston Villa game, as Barcelona aim to secure a top-eight finish in the Champions League league phase.
Flick also took the opportunity to praise Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, describing the Spanish coach as “one of the best managers in Europe.” He expects a challenging encounter against the Premier League side.
“They are very clear about how they want to play, both defensively and offensively. I like that a lot. It’s the Champions League, and it’s special. Every opponent has quality, and it will be a tough match.
“I really like the way his team plays. They are confident on the ball and in their build-up play. I also like their defensive structure. Everything is very clear. Jackson is at an incredible level. It will be a difficult game against a great manager,” Flick added.
The Barcelona manager is now determined to get his team back to winning ways in the Champions League.