Flick Ahead of Tough Sevilla Away Game: "I Think We're at a Different Level Than Last Year"

Barcelona will be aiming for their seventh consecutive La Liga victory tomorrow as they visit the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, a venue where they were previously routed 4-1 by Sevilla. However, according to Hansi Flick, his team is now operating at a completely different level. The German coach declined to reveal who would start in goal for the Blaugrana in the absence of Joan Garcia, stating that he has great confidence in both Wojciech Szczęsny and Dominik Livaković.

Here are the key highlights from Flick's press conference:

On last season's heavy defeat away to Sevilla

- I believe we are at a different level now compared to last year, but all matches start at 0-0. Sevilla plays very well, especially at home. They rely on man-marking and will try to press us in those situations. It will be crucial for us to play with confidence, move the ball wide, and control the game. We need to circulate the ball quickly.

On Joan Garcia and who will start in goal tomorrow

- We spoke with the medical staff about the discomfort he's experiencing. It's nothing major, but he needs rest. It's very important to have quality in that position. In Dominik Livaković, we have a goalkeeper of a very good standard. Szczęsny, on the other hand, played a significant role in winning the title last season. He's a great player. Who will start? You know I never discuss that the day before a match. You'll have to wait.

On the winning streak

- Will we achieve a seventh consecutive La Liga victory? We need to focus on ourselves. Tomorrow, we want to win, and that's our objective. We must manage the workload as effectively as possible. For me, that's the key. We have many matches, and we always need to train with recovery in mind.

We play tomorrow, and then we'll have time to rest. Not all players, of course, will have the opportunity to rest, as some will join their national teams. When they leave for such matches, I get worried, but at the same time, I trust the national team coaches and try to remain positive.

On the positive team atmosphere

- I think this isn't just my credit, but that of the entire coaching staff. We all work together and always strive to transmit positive energy. For me, this is paramount. Our role is to help the team and help each player unleash their full potential. We have high expectations of them and constantly demand good performances. I've said in other press conferences that it's very important to create a good atmosphere for the players. However, at the moment, I'm not entirely satisfied, as we are at the beginning of the process, and there's still room for improvement. We always want more, and there are aspects we need to continue working on.

On Raphinha

- If we look at the last two seasons, our press almost always started with the forward. He possesses that hunger for the game, that intensity, and the attitude to initiate the press exactly as we want. He not only contributes significantly in attack but also does a great job defensively. He's the one who takes the first step in pressing and, as a captain, sets the direction for the rest of the team to follow.

On Adeyemi

- He's a very fast player. Is he the fastest? I don't know, Alphonso Davies is similar. He's a good person, a great guy, and he's highly respected in the locker room. Everyone likes him a lot. His recent performances make things easier. He wasn't feeling well in Germany, and the best thing was a change of scenery, to go to another country. I'm glad he chose us. I will give him my full trust, and I'm 100% behind him.”