There’s no stopping at FC Barcelona. After lifting the first trophy of the season by winning the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid, Barça are straight back into knockout action, with a do-or-die trip to Racing Santander for the Copa del Rey round of 16. Speaking ahead of the game, Hansi Flick acknowledged that the Cantabrian side “will be highly motivated and very clear in their ideas ... They are a young team and I've really enjoyed their football.”

It promises to be anything but straightforward: a single-leg tie, in a stadium fully behind the home side. “We’ll have to be ready from the first minute,” warned the German coach.

The visit to El Sardinero could also mark João Cancelo’s return to competitive action in a blaugrana jersey, with Flick revealing that “the idea is for him to get some minutes.”

Asked about the Portuguese full-back’s arrival, Flick explained his thinking: “We had to decide what we wanted. We’re well covered at centre-back with Gerard Martín, Eric and Cubarsí, and with Araújo back as well. Cancelo is a fantastic player, very professional and very strong going forward. We need players with quality when opponents sit deep in the final third, and he’s a good option for that.”

Flick was also asked about the sense of confidence and security he feels within the Club, and his answer was strikingly heartfelt. “You never know what will happen, but from day one the feeling has been that we’re working together. It feels like a big family. It’s not about the players, the president, Deco, or the staff… It’s about families. We all have parents, brothers, sisters, children. It really feels like a family, and what we’ve built here is very special.”

 

Força Barça