Manager Urges Team to Enjoy Historic Win Before Shifting Focus to Champions League Challenge
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was full of praise for his players after their thrilling 3-2 extra-time victory over Real Madrid in Saturday’s Copa del Rey final, calling it a “simply perfect night” as the club lifted the trophy for a record 32nd time.
Speaking in the early hours of Sunday morning, the German manager encouraged his treble-chasing squad to fully enjoy their hard-earned triumph before turning their attention to Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal against Inter Milan.
“I am very proud,” Flick told reporters. “For me, it’s amazing what they are doing, how they fight. I really appreciate that they never give up. I think everyone – the club, the fans – are proud of this team. To win a title in a Clásico against Real Madrid is always special.”
The victory extended Barcelona’s recent dominance over their arch-rivals, marking their third consecutive win against Madrid this season. The Catalans previously thrashed Los Blancos 4-0 in La Liga at the Bernabéu in October and 5-2 in January’s Spanish Super Cup final.
Flick made special mention of Barcelona’s traveling supporters, saying: “I’m happy for my players and for the thousands of fans who were in the stands. They deserved this title.”
With his team now four points clear at the top of La Liga and through to the Champions League semifinals, Flick acknowledged the need for quick recovery before their next challenge.
“Now we must celebrate,” he said, “and then the objective must be to recover, recover and recover. The treble is an option, but we have to keep working.”
The manager attributed Barcelona’s success this season to the positive atmosphere he’s cultivated since arriving last summer.
“At the beginning of the season I said I was here, with my assistants, to create a good atmosphere in the dressing room,” Flick explained. “I wanted to show them they could enjoy the game and that they could play at the highest level. Creating that atmosphere has been important and key.”
Barcelona’s unbeaten domestic run now stretches back to late December, with the team playing what many consider to be the most attractive football in Europe this season. They face a crucial week ahead, with the Champions League semifinal first leg against Inter followed by a La Liga clash against bottom side Valladolid before the potential title-decider against Real Madrid on May 11.
Flick remained cautiously optimistic about his team’s chances of completing a historic treble, concluding: “They have a fantastic mentality. If you look at how they came back in the game, the ability to think positive to turn it around… The sky is the limit if we keep our feet on the ground.”
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