Barcelona start the defence of their Spanish Tremendous Cup crown in opposition to Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick stated that retaining the Spanish Tremendous Cup this week could be a lift for his workforce’s different ambitions this season.
The report 15-time champions face Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday in a semifinal conflict on the King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Barca gained the competitors final season as the primary a part of a home treble, the primary triumph of Flick’s reign, adopted by triumphs in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
“This match is a little bit bit totally different [to the equivalent competition] in Germany, however I prefer it,” stated former Bayern Munich coach Flick.
“For us to win the Tremendous Cup [last season] gave us a whole lot of power for the remainder of the season, and that is additionally what we wish this 12 months.”
Regardless that important questions stay about their defending, Barcelona are the favourites to win the Tremendous Cup and lead La Liga after 9 consecutive prime flight victories.
Regardless of being outplayed by neighbours Espanyol in a tense derby conflict on Saturday, late objectives and a sensational efficiency from stopper Joan Garcia helped the Catalans declare a 2-0 victory.
Flick insisted his workforce needed to carry out higher on the again in the event that they had been to reach the sixth version of the match in Saudi Arabia.
“It won’t be a straightforward match [if] we make the identical errors as on Saturday; it won’t be straightforward, so now we have to work on our issues,” continued Flick.
“We’ve to play significantly better within the defence; now we have to play related as one workforce, and that is what I missed on Saturday, so now we have to make issues significantly better.”
Barcelona goal Cancelo might be on the transfer from Saudi Arabia
Central defender Ronald Araujo may return to motion this week after an prolonged psychological well being break.
The Uruguayan was granted go away for a couple of month following a pink card in Barcelona’s 3-0 Champions League defeat by Chelsea in November.
“We’ll see this coaching [session] at the moment, and I may even wish to communicate with him, so now we have not determined how one can do it tomorrow,” stated Flick.
“I believe it takes time, so if he feels prepared for tomorrow, perhaps we are going to change one thing, however in the intervening time, it’s not our plan to do that.”
Flick confirmed that Barcelona had been near signing Joao Cancelo from Al-Hilal, who’s on mortgage till the top of the season, however the deal has not been accomplished.
“With Joao, perhaps he can provide us extra choices additionally as full-back, either side within the offence, good high quality, however [as far as] I do know, it’s not achieved,” stated Flick.
Cancelo spent the 2023-24 season on mortgage at Barcelona from Manchester Metropolis.
Athletic, eighth in La Liga, final gained the Tremendous Cup in 2021, beating Barcelona within the last, and have lifted the trophy on three events.
Solely the Catalans and Actual Madrid, with 13 triumphs, have a greater report. On Thursday, Xabi Alonso’s Actual Madrid face metropolis rivals Atletico Madrid within the different Tremendous Cup semifinal.
