Hans-Dieter Flick: "In the classics, we only step onto the field for victory"
On May 11, the famous "El Clasico" match will take place in the 35th round of Spain's La Liga, attracting the attention of the whole world. In this match, "Barselona" will host its fierce rival, "Real Madrid," at home. On the eve of this important clash, the Catalan team's head coach Hans-Dieter Flick shared his thoughts on the current state of the team and the upcoming match.
“After the painful defeat against Inter in the Champions League, the situation in the team has improved. We certainly understand that it won't be easy, but at the same time, we are taking all measures to get things on the right track and achieve our goals. We know exactly what we want and we need to prove it on the field. Right now, the only thing that matters for us is the 'clasico' because it is of great importance for the team's spirit,” said Flick.
The German specialist also addressed several questions regarding the starting lineup:
“I think it will be difficult to field Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde from the start. I don't have complete confidence about their condition yet. At the same time, Gerard Martin and other players are showing that they are in very good form. There are three more important matches ahead, and perhaps Lewandowski and Balde will come on in the second half.”
Flick also touched upon the psychological state that emerged in the team after being eliminated from the Champions League:
“In such situations, it is very important to have open conversations with the players, to restore their spirit, and to exchange ideas about future goals. We did just that. 'El Clasico' is not just a game; it requires us to step onto the field with 100 percent effort. We want to play actively, control the ball, and make the most of our fans' support. This is very important,” the coach added.
The coach emphasized that while acknowledging that "Real Madrid" is a very strong team, "Barselona" will step onto the field only for victory:
“I do not deny the strength of our opponent; 'Real' is an amazing and fantastic team. However, we are playing at home and want to win in front of our fans. If you ask the players, they want to win in 'clasico' in any situation. The result of this game is of principled importance to us; the tournament table and the current situation of the season are not important for now. We are focused solely on this match and are ready to give our all for victory,” Flick concluded.
It is worth noting that the "El Clasico" between "Barselona" and "Real Madrid" will take place on May 11 at the "Camp Nou" stadium. The outcome of this match could significantly change the situation in the competition table.
