Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 3:55 p.m.
Hansi Flick highlighted the effect that the Spanish Super Cup can have on the future of the season. «This tournament is a little different from Germany, but I like it. There are four teams and last year we did very well. “Winning the Super Cup gave us energy for the entire season and that is what we want this year,” said the Barça coach in advance of the semifinal that will pit the Barça team against Athletic in Jeddah on Wednesday.
«We are playing with the best teams in Spain. Athletic has many alternatives in attack and it will not be easy. If we make the mistakes of the derby, it won’t be easy. We’ll see tomorrow. We have to play much better on defense. “Sometimes I miss this,” said the coach of a squad that arrives at the event immersed in a great streak of results, but who does not want any type of confidence in view of the caliber of rivals that Barça will have to face in the fight for the first trophy of the year.
«I have told the team that there are two games to win the title. It is motivation enough. At Barça you want to win titles. It’s what the club and the fans want. “We are here to be successful,” added Flick, who avoided assuming the status of favorite. «Madrid, Atlético and Athletic also believe they can win. “They are two games against two very good teams,” he warned in a press conference in which the possible return of Joao Cancelo to Barça took center stage.
«It is not done, but I would be happy if it is closed. We are talking about signing a central defender, but it is a good option for these six months,” said the German about the possible return of the Portuguese to Barcelona after an agreement with his current club, Al Hilal, which seems to be done and would shake up the winter market in a culé key now that Barça’s salary limit seems to have given a break. «We had a situation in these two years in which we had to be intelligent with the players we signed. We can’t spend billions. Our players are progressing. Our young people are growing and we trust them. Now we have the opportunity to add a veteran. I will appreciate it if you come,” Flick remarked.
Alternatives
The Barça coach confirmed the ownership of Joan García between the sticks against Athletic but was elusive about the possible return of Araujo after a period in which the Uruguayan centre-back has been absent from the playing fields due to mental health. «I want to talk to him. We haven’t decided. If he is ready, maybe we will change something,” said the German, who pointed out that no player on his team has asked to leave in the winter market.
He recognized that the speed of the Athletic players is a weapon to be taken into account by the lions, but he appealed to Barça’s “strengths” to counteract it and congratulated himself on the range of options available to him both in the midfield and up front.
«Eric has shown that he can play in many positions. Frenkie has done well for six. Pedri was injured and we had to adapt. The most important thing, and we saw it in the derby, is who plays as ten. With Fermín, it was very good. It’s what we need in that position. Frenkie and Pedri are players who can keep the ball and defend well. We have options. “Eric can play in other positions,” he noted about the engine room before referring to the fight between Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski to be the main offensive reference.
«In a club like Barça, in each position there are two high-level players. Ferran has done well and scored goals, but so has Robert. They have a good attitude in training and when they stay on the bench. Lewy scored the second goal in the derby. That’s what I want to see. “Everyone has to do their best for the team,” argued Flick.
Joan García, during the press conference in Jeddah.
Fadel Senna (AFP)
Joan García: “We would all like to go to the World Cup”
Joan García showed his enthusiasm for wearing the Spanish national team shirt one day, but stressed that it is not an obsession. «The World Cup is not an objective. The plan is to improve and continue playing with Barça. We would all like to go to the World Cup and if it comes in the future, then, much better,” said the Barça goalkeeper in the preview of the Spanish Super Cup semi-final that will pit the Barça team against Athletic.
«We expect a strong opponent, motivated and eager to give rhythm to the games. “They have very powerful players up front, but we have prepared the game well and I’m sure it will go well,” the Catalan goalkeeper pointed out about the lions, who will fight a morbid duel with Unai Simón days after showing off against Espanyol despite the enormous environmental pressure to which he was subjected by his former fans. «I worked as always, knowing that the atmosphere would be special because of my past. I became aware, I visualized it and I managed to focus on the game. Now let’s think about the Super Cup,” he said in this regard.
