Barcelona are all set to host Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie.
The Blaugrana have already played the Bundesliga giants once this season, in the league phase, where they secured a 3-2 win.
Things are different now, though, with Dortmund having a new manager in Niko Kovac, a former mentor of Barça head coach Hansi Flick.
Ahead of tomorrow’s contest in Montjuic, the Barcelona gaffer discussed his imminent reunion with Kovac as well as the team’s journey up until this point and the confidence that they are carrying into the game.
On Dortmund and Kovac
“Everyone would like to be in this situation, we look forward and want to continue. We are confident,” said Flick, kicking things off.
Further talking about the match and playing the first leg at home, he noted: “In the Champions League, playing at home is better because we perform better. We’d like to be able to finish it off now.
"Against Atletico, we saw that. It’s a good moment for us. We have improved a lot in many situations and found the right answers. We are very prepared for tomorrow’s game.”
Regarding his reunion with Kovac, Flick remarked: “It’s something I’ve thought about a lot. It’s good that I know Niko and he can help us. Our job is to prepare ourselves.
“Niko is a fantastic coach, a wonderful person and I’m looking forward to meeting him again.”
Borussia Dortmund go into the game with several notable absences, including Marcel Sabitzer and Nico Schlotterbeck. However, Flick insisted that he expects Kovac to put out a strong team, saying:
"They are a very good team. Niko will be able to put out a good line-up. They are strong defensively and I wish the injured players all the best. They have some very good players and it’s a pity, but they have enough players to make up for their losses.”
On what has changed for Dortmund between their last meeting and tomorrow’s match, the Barça boss remarked:
“The confidence has changed a bit. The results they’ve had in the Champions League and Bundesliga have given them confidence. They have more concrete goals.
“They are a team with great pace, they think in an attacking way and we’ll have to be up to the task.”
On what he makes of Barcelona’s billing as the favourites for the competition, the German manager remarked:
“I’ve already said it several times. We have to give everything in the match. We have worked hard in preparation and we don’t want it to be the end. We have to play well tomorrow.
“We haven’t lost games and that’s important, but we have to perform as well as we can.”
The Barça head coach was then asked for an update on the situation of Raphinha, who has not played much after the international break.
“After the break, we have given him a little time to recover, but in training he is fantastic. He is very dynamic and ready for tomorrow’s game,” Flick revealed.
On being asked about the controversy surrounding Dani Olmo’s registration and La Liga’s latest appeal, the manager refused to comment, saying:
“We have a very important Champions League game against Dortmund. These issues are managed by the club and I don’t focus on them.”
Talking about managing the players’ workload for the remainder of the season, the Barcelona head coach explained:
“It’s important to focus on the current things and we have to think about every game. We have to see how tired the players are, that’s important, or if we have to change positions.
“I am happy because right now we have a lot of players who can cover several positions. We have this schedule, but it won’t make us suffer. Our goal is to win every single match. We can deal with it. We are very proud.”
The Barcelona players started training an hour later than scheduled as Flick had a video session with them followed by a lengthy talk. On being asked what was discussed, he said:
“We are clear about how we want to play and we have made some promises. We want to stay in the Champions League, we have to focus on the things that matter.”
About statistics and numbers being in favour of Barcelona heading into tomorrow’s encounter, Flick remarked that it does not matter to him.
"Statistics don’t interest me, nor does the past. What matters is tomorrow. We are all delighted to be playing in the Champions League. It’s a challenge for us to play in Europe and we want to be there,” he noted.
- Michel Durant
