Barcelona manager Hansi Flick believes his team’s Copa del Rey triumph over Real Madrid will boost morale rather than distract from their Champions League semifinal clash with Inter Milan.
Speaking ahead of today’s first-leg encounter at Camp Nou, Flick said the 3-2 extra-time victory on Saturday, which secured the first leg of a possible treble, has created “positive vibes” that can drive the team forward.
“What I can see is that everyone is focused on this match and knows how important it is to reach the Champions League final,” Flick told reporters. “The win against Real is very important for our confidence — it can push us further.”
Flick acknowledged that Inter, who were knocked out of the Coppa Italia last week and have suffered three straight defeats, will still pose a serious threat.
“They have players for whom this might be the last chance to reach a final, and they will give everything,” he said.
The Barcelona boss also confirmed that Wojciech Szczesny remains his starting goalkeeper in Europe, despite Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s return from injury.
With recovery a concern after 120 intense minutes against Madrid, Flick said final decisions on the starting lineup would be made after assessing the players.
“We’ll see how they respond in training,” he said. “It’s a Champions League semifinal — everyone wants to give 100 per cent.”
Despite Inter’s recent struggles, Flick insists past results are irrelevant: “It doesn’t matter about the matches in the past. I’m focused on my team.”
