Barcelona ready for Real test: Flick
FC Barcelona's Raphinha with Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior after the Copa del Rey Final at Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain on April 2. PHOTO: REUTERS
Barcelona's players have discussed last week's Champions League elimination and are ready to put their disappointment behind them as they prepare to face LaLiga title rivals Real Madrid, manager Hansi Flick said on Saturday.
Barca, who suffered a 4-3 Champions League semi-final defeat by Inter Milan on Tuesday, lead the Spanish top-flight by four points over second-placed Real.
With four matches left in the season, a home win on Sunday would move Flick's side one victory away from their 28th Spanish league title.
"We're doing well. After the defeat in Milan, everyone knows it's not easy... but we're doing things right. We've talked about what we want to do in these two weeks," Flick told reporters.
"There are four more games to go. El Clasico is important, we have to show how well we can play. We have to show confidence. The players are doing very well... We've been talking about what they are thinking, what they are feeling.
"We had to talk about it as a group. Everyone knows that in a Clasico you have to give 100%. You have to be active, intense, dominant. Real Madrid is a very good team, and we need the fans."
Barcelona have conceded 10 goals in their last four games across all competitions, leading to questions over their solidity and the team's use of a high line when defending.
Flick, however, is content with his back line.
"When we started, I was clear about the philosophy... There have been games, especially at the beginning, where we saw doubts, but the team has adapted well," he said.
"They have also been improving and are happy with the style and how we want to play. When you see the quality of the players you are happy."
Flick also singled out defender Inigo Martinez for praise.
"He likes to play deeper, and it's unbelievable to see how he's adapted," the German said.
"He's a leader and focuses on winning every game. He works hard in every training session. He shares his positive feelings with his teammates and he is a fighter. A great leader." Flick said striker Robert Lewandowski, returning from a hamstring injury, and full back Alejandro Balde would not start against Real.
"Gerard Martin and the rest of the players are doing very well," Flick said.
"After this match, we have three more games left. Maybe they (Lewandowski and Balde) will get minutes in the second half, I think Balde is ready for that."
Alonso has every door open: Ancelotti
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has been heavily linked with replacing Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid and the veteran manager admitted Saturday "every door" is open to the Spaniard.
Ancelotti is expected to leave Madrid at the end of the current campaign with Spanish media reporting former Los Blancos midfielder Alonso will take over next season.
Alonso, 43, said Friday he will leave Leverkusen at the end of the current campaign.
"I read that, that he's leaving Bayer Leverkusen, where he has done a fantastic job," Ancelotti told a news conference.
"He has every door open to him because he's shown he is one of the best coaches in the world."
Ancelotti has one year left on his Real Madrid deal but said he would reveal his future at the end of the season after reports he could depart to lead the Brazilian national team.
Alonso inspired Leverkusen to an unbeaten league and cup double in the 2023-24 season, while Madrid won La Liga and the Champions League under Ancelotti.
Both teams have struggled by comparison this term, with Madrid knocked out in the Champions League quarter-finals by Arsenal.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
14 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
PSG sights set on Club World Cup glory
Paris Saint-Germain players step off their plane after arriving in Los Angeles on Tuesday ahead of the Club World Cup. PHOTO: AFP Freshly crowned kings of Europe, Paris Saint-Germain arrived this week in the United States for the Club World Cup and are treating FIFA's lucrative new competition not as a nuisance at the end of an exhausting season but as a serious objective. "I think it is an incredible competition," PSG coach Luis Enrique said of the Club World Cup in the immediate aftermath of his team's UEFA Champions League triumph in Munich two weeks ago. "Our aim is to be competitive and try to win a fifth trophy of the season." The Qatar-backed French giants could be forgiven for wanting some time to bask in the glory of their 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich which allowed them to finally win the Champions League for the first time in their history. There had been numerous agonising failures in Europe's elite club competition, as well as billions of euros spent on transfer fees on stars like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, prior to captain Marquinhos raising the trophy aloft. "We have made history for the club, for the city and for the whole country," defender Lucas Hernandez told sports daily L'Equipe after the PSG squad paraded their trophy down the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, attended a reception with President Emmanuel Macron and celebrated with almost 50,000 fans at their Parc des Princes stadium. PSG have played 58 matches since last August and also swept all the available domestic trophies in France this season, as has become the norm in recent years. But there is simply no time to stop and reflect. Many of their players, including Champions League final hero Desire Doue, spent last week on international duty before returning to their club and departing for Los Angeles, where they will begin their Club World Cup adventure this weekend. "The tournament itself is a really attractive prospect," Luis Enrique told "We have to strike the balance between managing the physical and mental fatigue we're experiencing now at the end of a long season and harnessing the motivation that comes with being involved in the competition." PSG's opening game will be against another European heavyweight as they take on Antoine Griezmann's Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, just outside Los Angeles, on Sunday. They will then also face South American champions Botafogo, of Brazil, before moving north to take on Seattle Sounders in their remaining Group B matches. Expected to qualify for the knockout phase without too many issues, PSG could end up playing a total of seven matches if they make it all the way to the final in New York on July 13 — just a month before their scheduled first game of next season in the UEFA Supercup against Tottenham Hotspur. The strain of such a long campaign is telling, with Ousmane Dembele — their top scorer this season with 33 goals — struggling with an injury picked up playing for France last week. They did not manage to add any new players to their squad during the brief transfer window that opened at the start of this month ahead of the tournament -- reported interest in Bournemouth's Ukrainian defender Illia Zabarnyi did not turn into anything concrete. But the rewards for success in the Club World Cup are enticing and should be enough to keep Luis Enrique's squad focused on their objective, with up to a stunning $125 million in prize money on offer for the best performing European team if they manage to go all the way. AFP
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Viktor Gyokeres rejects Manchester United; Arsenal, Juventus still in the race
Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly rejected a move to Manchester United, despite speculation linking him with a reunion with former manager Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford. According to a report by Portuguese outlet Record, Gyokeres' agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, is said to have informed United that the 27-year-old Sweden international is not interested in reuniting with Ruben Amorim in Manchester. Gyokeres enjoyed a standout season in Portugal, scoring 54 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions. His form placed him firmly on the radar of top European clubs, including United, who are looking to bolster their attacking options after an inconsistent season. The potential of working again with Amorim, who is reportedly under consideration for the managerial job at United, had been seen as a possible advantage in the club's pursuit of Gyokeres. However, it appears to have had the opposite effect, with the striker signalling a desire to move in a different direction. Arsenal are among the clubs monitoring the situation. With Mikel Arteta's side offering Champions League football and a more stable project, the Gunners could emerge as a more attractive option for Gyokeres as they seek to strengthen their front line ahead of another title challenge. No formal bids have been confirmed, but interest from north London could intensify following Gyokeres's apparent decision to reject United. For Manchester United, this development marks another setback in what is expected to be a critical summer. With Rasmus Højlund still developing and no proven top-tier striker secured, the club remains in need of a reliable goalscorer. The rejection also highlights ongoing concerns about United's ability to attract top talent amid uncertainty surrounding leadership, recruitment strategy, and managerial direction. The situation raises broader questions about United's standing in the transfer market. Once seen as a premier destination, the club's inconsistent performances and structural ambiguity may now be prompting elite players to look elsewhere.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Liverpool bank on 'world-class' Wirtz
The golden boy of German football is set to become the new prince of the Premier League as Florian Wirtz prepares to join Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for a club-record fee. Fresh from winning a 20th English top-flight title, Arne Slot's Reds have broken the bank to land a rising star already labelled as one of the world's best by former Reds midfielder and Wirtz's former coach Xabi Alonso. British media reported on Friday that the Premier League champions had agreed a club-record deal worth up to £116 million ($157 million) to secure the services of the attacking midfielder. Liverpool can now agree personal terms with a player coveted by a number of top European clubs. Wirtz's abundant potential as a teenager sparked a row between his hometown club Cologne and Leverkusen five years ago when Leverkusen, who are backed by pharmaceutical giants Bayer, swooped to sign him at 17. Cologne argued that a gentleman's agreement not to poach youth team players had been violated, but Leverkusen said Wirtz was a first-team signing and within months he had made his Bundesliga debut. His rise was interrupted by a cruciate knee ligament injury in March 2022 that forced him to miss the next 10 months. By the time he returned, Alonso had been installed as Leverkusen boss and together they would spearhead the club's greatest days. Leverkusen ended Bayern Munich's grip on the Bundesliga in stunning fashion, romping to the title and the German Cup without losing a single match in the 2023/24 season. Wirtz netted his first career hat-trick on the day the title was sealed against Werder Bremen, on his way to being crowned Bundesliga player of the year. "Flo is one of the top players in the world, he's world class," said Alonso, who compared his protege to Lionel Messi in terms of his understanding of the game. "Why is Messi so good? Because he knows how and when to play simple passes. Messi says: 'You're in a better position? Here, there you have the ball'," said Alonso, a hero of Liverpool's 2005 Champions League triumph. "It's not always about making the most brilliant move, but the best and smartest. Florian can do that. That's why he's so good."
