Flick: "We have the quality to win the Champions League, but it's a long road"

Hansi Flick faced reporters on Tuesday with the Champions League already on the immediate horizon. The Barcelona head coach made no secret of the fact that the club's main target this season is lifting the European trophy, and he backed his dressing room to have enough talent to fight for it. At the same time, he called for calm, insisting that the demands of the competition mean taking it game by game.

• Flick says Barcelona have more than enough quality to challenge for the Champions League and that it is the club's biggest goal.
• The coach highlights Lamine Yamal's growth and the additional responsibility he is taking on this season.
• Frenkie de Jong is following his planned recovery and could return after the international break.
• Flick backs the referees and avoids commenting on possible diving incidents in the box.
• Gordon receives public support from Flick despite not scoring yet, thanks to his work in attack and defence.

Barcelona's biggest goal this season

Flick did not hesitate when talking about the European competition: winning the Champions League is the club's great ambition. "I think in the end all big clubs dream of winning it. We have the quality to win it, but we have to show it and it's a long road," he said during a press conference that mixed ambition with caution.

For the German coach, the experience already in the squad is a strong argument. He believes there are many players used to performing at the highest level and that everyone shares the responsibility of fighting for every title. Flick stressed that the recent success in the first four LaLiga matches guarantees nothing, and he acknowledged that some players who are not getting minutes are not entirely happy, which he sees as normal in such a competitive group.

How the dressing room is feeling ahead of the European opener

The German coach gave positive signals about the group's cohesion. "It seems everything is going well, but I think there is a lot of quality, communication... they are together, connected... it is necessary to talk on the pitch. I see everyone ready," he said when assessing the mood before the European debut.

Flick admitted that keeping every member of the squad happy is not easy, but he accepts it as a natural part of his job. He confirmed that he picks the starting eleven together with his coaching staff and that he tries to talk to the players who are left out to explain each decision.

Lamine Yamal: from young talent to decisive player

One of the standout names in the press conference was Lamine Yamal, whom Flick praised without reservation. "He is a player who decides matches on his own, he has enormous quality. He loves to improve. What I also see now is his responsibility as a captain. He enjoys football and is at his highest level," he said.

The Barcelona winger is heading into his second season at the top level with an even more important role. Flick values both his ability to make the difference in one-on-one situations and his growing influence inside the dressing room.

Frenkie de Jong's recovery and other squad updates

Frenkie de Jong continues with his recovery process and, according to the coach, his injury is progressing as planned. Flick explained that he spoke with the Dutchman this morning and that he is doing well, with the possibility of returning after the international break.

As for Bisiwu, the coach confirmed that he will not be part of the squad for the Champions League match. The player has trained normally and will keep working with the first team, but he will feature for Barça B. Flick highlighted his potential in both defensive and attacking duties.

Support for the referees and backing for Gordon

Asked about possible diving in the box, Flick preferred not to assess those incidents. "It's not my job. The quality and level of the referees is very good, in the Champions League and LaLiga. It's not always easy for them, and we have to support them. I always try to stay calm," he replied.

He also had words of confidence for Gordon, who has not opened his goalscoring account this season. The coach said he is not worried about that lack of accuracy: he sees a clear desire to score in the forward and values his contribution through assists and final passes, as well as his defensive work.

LaLiga, the Ballon d'Or and the team's style of play

Flick also talked about the domestic league, which is part of the club's dream and its objective for the season. "We want another league title, the third one. That would be very big," he said about the possibility of adding a new domestic crown for the club.

On the Ballon d'Or, the coach acknowledged that Barcelona have several fantastic players capable of winning the award. He said he would be happy if one of them took it home, although he stressed that the most important thing is the attitude they show on the pitch.

Regarding the team's style, Flick defended adapting to the opponent when the situation requires it. He believes that flexibility has produced good results, even though the team struggled against Atlético de Madrid. The coach insisted on the need to maintain the level shown in the first four league matches.