Hansi Flick Confident Ahead of Barcelona's Clash with Atletico

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick discusses the team's upcoming match against Atletico Madrid, emphasizing the importance of focus and praising Atletico's strength despite their recent Champions League exit.

Hansi Flick has urged his team to maintain focus from the starting whistle to avoid another defeat against Atletico Madrid. Barcelona must draw lessons from their previous two encounters with Atletico to secure a much-needed win.

🎙️ HANSI FLICK: “I see the team very focused. We are looking forward to it because it's a tough match. We are prepared.”#AtletiBarça pic.twitter.com/wDwz1ifKds

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 15, 2025

Barcelona and Real Madrid are currently locked in a tie for first place in LaLiga, with 57 points each, while Atletico Madrid trails closely behind with 56 points. The dynamics of the title race could shift if Real Madrid secures a victory over Villarreal on Saturday, although Barcelona has an upcoming game in hand that could potentially alter the standings.

🎙️ HANSI FLICK: “We have to be focused from the beginning of the match to the end.”#AtletiBarça pic.twitter.com/d09MnY8GPu

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 15, 2025

Hansi Flick's side has experienced disappointing results against Atletico Madrid, losing 2-1 at home and being held to a 4-4 draw in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg. In both matches, Atletico's Alexander Sorloth proved to be a thorn in Barcelona's side, scoring a stoppage-time winner in the first game and a 90th-minute equalizer in the second.

Flick emphasized the importance of maintaining focus throughout the match, stating, “I think we played two great matches. We have to be focused from the beginning of the match to the end of the match.” He acknowledged that his team's lack of focus led to costly mistakes in their previous encounters with Atletico, saying, “In the first match, we weren't as focused as we can be at the end of the match. In the second match, we weren't focused at the beginning and the end.” Flick warned that such lapses in concentration could be devastating against a team like Atletico, adding, “We have to take care of that. If you make mistakes against Atletico, they can hurt you. This is what we have to defend.”

When asked if the upcoming match could be a decisive factor in the title race, Flick downplayed its significance, saying, “It's a long way to go in the league, it's one match.” However, he did acknowledge that a win would provide a significant confidence boost, adding, “If we win, it will be very good for our confidence and give us more belief.”

Hansi Flick expressed his admiration for LaLiga clubs, saying, “I always say LaLiga clubs know how to play football, it's not easy to win against such teams.” This sentiment was particularly relevant given Barcelona's upcoming match against Atletico Madrid.

Atletico Madrid's recent Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid, which ended in a penalty shootout, was a tough pill to swallow. However, Flick didn't think this would affect their performance in the upcoming match, stating, “For me, they have a fantastic team. It's not just 11-14 players. They have a really good team, and this isn't a problem.” He also brushed aside concerns about Atletico's potential fatigue, saying, “They are fit, they have experienced players in the team. I don't think it makes a difference.”

Flick sympathized with Julian Alvarez, who was at the center of a controversy when his penalty kick was disallowed due to a double touch. Flick said, “It was an unlucky situation, I really feel for him.” He also praised Alvarez, stating, “He's a fantastic player, he's one of the best strikers, but it happens.” Alvarez has had an impressive season, scoring 22 goals for Atletico in all competitions.