FC Barcelona took another step towards their sixth Champions League after defeating Benfica in Montjuïc (3-1) to secure their qualification for the quarter-finals of the tournament. After the match, Hansi Flick spoke to the media in a press conference, and besides valuing the victory against the Lisbon team, he made it clear what the great objective of his team is in the continental competition.
"I am very happy with the passage to the quarter-finals, of course. We have respected Benfica a lot, it has been difficult, they complicated us. Their coach prepared a great match with many transitions. We were able to control the game, it was nice to watch. We could have scored another goal, but we played very well," the coach began to say.
"Our goal is to win the Champions"
Although the Catalan team has proven to be one of the big favorites to lift the 'Orejona' next May 31 in Munich, the German prefers to remain cautious, although he made it clear that his goal is to be champion. "It is important to look at the quarter-finals, we have to see who we get. Our goal is to win the Champions, but we know it is the most complicated trophy to win," he revealed.
Flick also remembered Dr. Carles Miñarro after the victory of the Blaugrana against Benfica. "This was our goal. After everything that happened, it has been a great attitude and Carles will always be with us. He will always have a special place in our team," he stated.
The stunning goal by Lamine Yamal and the confidence of the squad
One of the standout names of the match was Lamine Yamal, who, in addition to assisting Raphinha for the first goal of the night, scored a stunning goal to put Barça ahead after the Lisbon team managed to equalize the score. The Blaugrana coach commented on this, praising the star from Mataró.
"Lamine's goal was incredible. I am very happy with him, it had been a while since he scored. He is showing a lot of confidence on the field, the goal came at the right moment and was very important for us," explained a very happy Hansi Flick.
The good dynamics of the team have directly impacted the squad, where they already feel like favorites to lift all the trophies, as Raphinha stated after Tuesday's match. A confidence that pleases the coach, who stated that "it is good for the players to think like this. They have confidence, but my job is to keep calm and look at the next match."
The secret to Barça's success and the ghosts of Barça in the Champions
Regarding the great form of Barça, the German explained one of the great secrets of his team's success. "You have to have an idea of how to play and think positively. Everyone is very focused, and we are all positive, that is good," the Teuton began to say.
"It helps a lot that the players are so young, we are seeing it in training and in matches, they enjoy each other. I love the mentality of the players, they are very concentrated. They have a lot of fun together and we have a great atmosphere in the locker room," he added.
"I think it is not worth looking at the past, I wasn't even here"
Finally, he made it clear that he is not worried about the ghosts of Barça in the knockout rounds of the Champions. "I think it is not worth looking at the past, I wasn't even here. We started with our own idea, everyone is fitting in 100% and that is the basis of everything. The players who have come in later have given their best for the team. We have to keep going like this, but it is a very long road," he concluded.