Hansi Flick: 'It is a very important game'
They may be cruising in LaLiga with a four point cushion over second-placed Real Madrid, but Barça haven't begun as they would have liked so far this season in the Champions League. They have seven points from five matchdays and currently sit in eighteenth position ahead of matchday six. As such and according to the Hansi Flick himself, Barça v Eintracht is a "very important game". It also has the significance of being the first Champions League match being hosted at the Spotify Camp Nou for some time.
Eintracht can pose problems
Flick spoke about the German team he knows well during the prematch press conference. On Eintracht Frankfurt, he said "they have a good and very young team, with fast and intense players. They know how to adapt their system". However, he focused on his own players as always, stating that "we have to play at our highest level, and we can get the three points if we do, but it will be tough".
The improvement in recent weeks
Barça come into the game in good shape despite the defeat in London, and it coincides with getting many of the injured players back. "Everyone knows what happened in the last three months. We have had many important players out, and we have had to really manage the minutes in recent weeks." All the same, the Barça coach also sees the improvement and has spoken about it with the players. "We are good, very close, and that's what we want and need. The defensive line is at a different level compared to last month. We don't have much time to train, but we do what we work on in games, and that is very positive. We always want to improve and train. We have a lot of potential", emphasised Flick.
Satisfied in LaLiga, focused on the Champions League
Despite this being the prematch press conference for the Champions League, there were inevitably questions about LaLiga, given the improvement by the blaugranes has coincided with several slip ups by Real Madrid, meaning Barça lead the way with four points more than the all-whites. However, Flick maintains the same line and is quite clear. "We always look at ourselves. We have four points more and that is very good, but there is a long way to go. You always have to give your best at this level. The most important game now is against Eintracht." Allocating importance to what's important.