Hansi Flick: Barcelona Will Play for Late Doctor Carles Minarro Garcia Against Benfica

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick says his team will play for late team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia in their Champions League tie against Benfica.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has vowed that his team will give their all to win Tuesday's Champions League last-16 tie against Benfica as a tribute to their late team doctor, Carles Minarro Garcia. Flick made the promise during a press conference on Monday, where he also acknowledged the difficulty of the past two days following Minarro's sudden passing.

Hansi Flick on Carles Miñarro: pic.twitter.com/rzTzTsjQDH

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 10, 2025

The Barcelona team is still reeling from the loss of Minarro, who died unexpectedly in the team hotel just hours before their scheduled match against Osasuna on Saturday. The match was subsequently postponed, and the team will hold a moment of silence before facing Benfica on Tuesday. Flick described the experience as a challenging time for the team, but expressed their determination to honor Minarro's memory with a strong performance.

A minute of silence was held before Hansi Flick’s press conference ahead of Barça vs. Benfica, in memory of Carles Miñarro.

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 10, 2025

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has revealed that his players will draw extra motivation from their late team doctor, Carles Minarro Garcia, as they face Benfica in the Champions League. Barcelona currently leads 1-0 from the first leg, and Flick expressed his team's determination to pay tribute to Minarro. “I think the team is handling the situation well. We are very focused on the game and we want to play for him. In this situation, it is very important to win for him. We are ready for it,” Flick told a press conference.

Flick acknowledged the significance of advancing in the competition as a way to honor Minarro's memory. “We have to move on and go ahead, it's our job. It's an important situation for the club to advance in the competition and we want to do well to honour him.” Flick also shared his personal sentiments about Minarro, describing him as a great person and doctor. “It's a great loss. He was a great person and a great doctor. He was unbelievable for the team and for the club, he was a fundamental part of our team who will be dearly missed.”

Despite the challenging circumstances, Flick expressed confidence in his team's ability to maintain their momentum. Barcelona is currently on a 16-game unbeaten run across all competitions and is in contention for three major titles. “We are in a very good momentum, in a fantastic dynamic. We hope to continue like this,” Flick said. The team's focus and determination were evident in their hard-fought win against Benfica last week, despite being reduced to 10 men early in the game.

Flick attributed his team's success to their focused mindset. “I see the team very focused. This morning, we had a talk and we went through all the good things they had done lately.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong dynamic within the team. “Nobody has taken anything for granted, that's the most important thing. The team, if it has a good dynamic, for me, that's the most important thing.”

There are days when football takes a back seat. Carles, you will always be remembered. pic.twitter.com/mhvGQznPxe

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 9, 2025