Flick talks Gavi, Lewandowski, Neymar, Olmo, Casado ahead of Benfica vs Barcelona | OneFootball

FC Barcelona will be aiming to take a step closer towards securing a place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League when they face SL Benfica tomorrow in the Round of 16 first-leg.

The Blaugrana go into the game on the back of a resounding 4-0 win over Real Sociedad in La Liga and will be hoping to build on that and return from Lisbon with an advantage for the second leg in Montjuic.

On the eve of the match at Estadio da Luz, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick spoke to the media, providing an update on Gavi, who did not train on Monday due to fever, while discussing possible team selection and the Neymar transfer rumours, among other things.

“We will see. He didn’t train yesterday as he didn’t feel well. The doctor will see him and we will decide,” said Flick about Gavi, leaving his involvement in tomorrow’s game as a doubt for now.

On whether Barcelona go into the game with the second leg at home on their minds, the German tactician replied:

“We have to think that there is a second leg, obviously. We are facing one of the best teams in the tournament, they play very well. The objective is to play better than them.”

The last time these two teams met, earlier this season in the league phase, the game ended in a 5-4 stoppage-time win for Barça. On the chances of tomorrow’s game panning out in a similar way, Flick said:

“They have their idea of the game and we have ours. Tomorrow we’ll see what happens. I hope to see a better dynamic from the start than the previous visit. It will be a difficult game.”

The Barcelona coach then praised Robert Lewandowski, who has now reached the best goal tally in a season since joining the club, saying:

“It’s always good to have a striker who scores so many goals and the team gives him that chance. It’s a collective mission. That’s the key. We have to keep going the way we’ve been going for the last two months.”

Hansi Flick expects a different game compared to last time vs Benfica. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Amid rampant speculations about Neymar wanting to return to Barcelona in the summer, Flick was asked to give his opinion on the matter.

“It’s not my job. I’m very focused on this team and the season. You have to be focused on the competition. The rest is the job of other people at the club, not mine,” he curtly said.

The 60-year-old tactician also spoke about the dilemma of choosing between Gavi and Dani Olmo in the No. 10 position and what they bring to the table, saying:

“Gavi can play in different positions, he’s a presser and he gives us a defensive approach. He plays well with the ball. Olmo enjoys playing in that position, he scores goals and creates chances.”

Flick also congratulated youngsters Marc Casado and Gerard Martin, who scored their first goal for the senior team against Sociedad at the weekend.

“It’s fantastic. They showed me a photo of the players celebrating the goal and I like it. They are grateful for the education of La Masia and they show it,” he said.

It has been ten years since Barça last won the UEFA Champions League, but Flick insisted that the team will focus on the challenge that lies immediately in front of them, saying:

“There is no easy game at this stage. Benfica are a fantastic opponent who have a stadium with a special atmosphere. It will be difficult.”

On whether Barcelona are one of the favourites to win the competition, he added: “I always think about the next game, and that’s Benfica. I don’t think it’s good to talk about it, to go beyond that.

“We started 0-0 and we have to give everything in every game. Our opponents also want to beat us.”

When asked about tomorrow’s lineup, Flick opted to play his cards close to his chest, saying: “I’m not going to give any clues, sometimes I do but I won’t do it now, especially in the Champions League.”

Concluding, Flick refused to single out any particular individual as a threat from Benfica, but praised the Portuguese outfit, as he said:

“I don’t like to talk about names but about the team. I like the way they play with the ball, they come in from the flanks and it’s difficult to defend their plan. We’ve thought about the strategy for the game and I think we’re ready.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo