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Ahmed Abdelhamid

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Flick insists La Liga is far from over and claims his side need no miracle to beat Atlético

Barcelona vs Espanyol
Barcelona
Espanyol
LaLiga
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona
Atletico Madrid
Champions League
Spain

The German coach is confident of a comeback

Barcelona extended their strong La Liga campaign by thrashing neighbours Espanyol 4-1 at the Spotify Camp Nou on Matchday 31.

The win lifted Barça to 79 points, nine clear of Real Madrid, edging them closer to the title—even if coach Hansi Flick is not ready to declare victory just yet.

  • Key points

    At the post-match press conference, Flick stressed that the crucial factor was claiming all three points, noting that his side had dominated the first half before losing their composure after the break. He added that the substitutions—notably the introductions of Dani and Frenkie de Jong—had restored control and guided the team to the required result.

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  • No miracle needed

    Flick stressed that his side do not require a miracle but simply a flawless display when they host Atlético Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

    He also noted that Barça were the better side for long spells in the first leg, despite the 2-0 loss, and insisted that “anything is possible” if the team match that spirit and quality.

  • Managing fatigue and dealing with criticism of Torres

    The German coach played down fatigue fears, despite the participation of key men Lamine Yamal and Pedri, pointing out that the squad has two full days to recover and that the players know how to manage pressure. He also felt the match was not as physically demanding as expected.

    He also praised Ferran Torres’s performance, insisting the forward is mentally sharp despite recent criticism, and underlined that player welfare remains a top priority while stressing that on-pitch results are ultimately what matter.

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  • La Liga is far from decided, and mental fortitude will prove decisive.

    Despite Bayern Munich’s comfortable lead over Real Madrid, Flick refused to declare the title race over, warning that such thinking was “completely wrong”.

    He stressed that success depends not only on quality but also on mentality and team spirit—qualities he believes his squad possesses.

  • De Jong’s stance… and the fans’ support

    Frenkie de Jong’s starting spot against Atlético is still under consideration, Flick confirmed. The coach will first confer with the medical team and the player to evaluate his fitness, especially his readiness for a full 90 minutes.

    He also stressed the importance of fan support, with over 2,000 travelling supporters set to make the trip to Madrid, and expressed his hope that they would return home satisfied.

    He stressed that big matches are decided by fine details and momentum, and he hopes those factors will favour Barcelona in Wednesday’s decisive clash.

  • See also:

    Araujo on refereeing: “Some things are obvious to everyone.”

    Video: Barcelona thrash Espanyol and move further ahead of Real Madrid.