Flick: Champions League Exit Hurt Us, But We Must Use the Motivation

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick stated that the Champions League exit was painful for the team, but now the players must triumph in La Liga. The Catalans hold a nine-point lead over Real Madrid after 31 matches and will host Celta at Camp Nou tomorrow. The German believes they must approach the match against the Galician side cautiously, as the "Sky Blues" have historically posed significant problems for his team.

“When we look at our recent matches against them, we can see that each one has been very difficult. Tomorrow, we need to perform at our highest level. It won't be easy because they always play well against us and can control the game effectively. The Champions League elimination hurt us, but now we must give our best in the upcoming matches because the league battle isn't over. We have an advantage, but La Liga is a tough league. We need to show our best, just as we did against Atlético, to make the fans happy, because we want everyone to be proud of the team,” Flick began.

The German then delved into more details regarding their Champions League exit.

“The Champions League elimination definitely hurt us. It was a painful moment, but we must use that motivation to help us improve the small things. We have a young team with a lot of potential, but we also need to make the right decisions in the transfer market. We realized we need the right players in the final stages of the season; we need leaders who can guide the team in such matches – quarterfinals, semifinals. We need players who show us where to go on the pitch. Winning the Champions League is a big dream. There are two things I'd like to achieve here – that, and the second thing I want is to be the manager of this stadium when it's fully completed. I like how things are developing at the club, how the people work within it; it's a great family. We have a lot of energy, even though we were eliminated, but there's always next season. We need to focus on what we can achieve until the end of the season,” Flick stated.

At the end of his press conference, he confirmed that he would soon sign a new contract. The German also confirmed another speculation: that Barcelona would likely be his last coaching job.

“To re-sign, that's my plan. I've said it, and I'm 100% honest when I say this will be the final step in my career. Right now, I feel great here. I want to re-sign, but it's not the time to talk about it. I'm focused on next season, and we speak with the management every day. I had a great time leading Germany and at other clubs like Bayern. But now I'm enjoying my work here in Barcelona, and everything is fantastic. The players too. The atmosphere is fantastic,” the German coach concluded.