Jeddah, Jan 11 (NationPress) Hansi Flick is determined to clinch his first major trophy as Barcelona manager, but he recognizes that his path to the Spanish Super Cup title is obstructed by one of the most challenging teams in global football - Real Madrid. In his pre-match press conference held on Saturday morning at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, he characterized Real Madrid as a fierce opponent while assuring that his team is fully prepared.
“We need to enhance our performance significantly compared to our game against Athletic. We committed too many mistakes that we must minimize. Madrid excels in transitions and capitalizes on every opportunity presented to them,” remarked Flick.
Following a legal dispute off the field, the Higher Sports Council (Consejo Superior de Deportes, CSD) granted an injunction on Wednesday, allowing Barcelona's Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor to be registered for La Liga, making them eligible for selection by Coach Flick for Monday's final. Flick confirmed that the Euro winner is a strong candidate to start in the match. “Dani Olmo is thrilled to be back on the pitch,” he stated.
The two rivals previously clashed in the league, resulting in a remarkable 4-0 win for the Catalan giants at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, circumstances have shifted since then, with Real Madrid entering the game on Sunday in top form, currently leading the league.
“My players must disregard the distractions surrounding them; we need to maintain our strength... Our desired style of play is the Barca way, which served us well in the last Clasico. We won’t be altering our approach. However, each Clasico is unique, and tomorrow we will begin from a clean slate, focusing solely on performing well and securing victory,” the German coach added.
