Olmo talks Pedri, Araujo, Joan Garcia, Barcelona form, Champions League – ‘We have to change a lot’ | OneFootball

Dani Olmo has become a regular starter for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona in recent times, partially owing to his improved fitness and partially because of Pedri’s injury.

Over the past few weeks, he has played as an interior midfielder in addition to playing as an attacking midfielder at times and has shown good versatility to help Barcelona through a rough patch.

Like the rest of the team, however, he did not enjoy great outings against Atletico Madrid or Girona and was part of the losing XI on both nights.

Olmo’s interview

The Spanish midfielder spoke to RAC1 (h/t Mundo Deportivo) in a recent interview where he opened up on a number of football-related aspects, but the highlight was his self-reflection and acceptance that a lot must change for them to win the UEFA Champions League.

“The Champions League will be complicated. We have to change a lot of things if we want to compete to win it.”

“We are Barça and we have to compete for everything,” he added.

He then opened up on the team’s defeat to Girona earlier this week and lamented the missed chances on the night.

“If we had scored the chances we had, we would have won.”

“If we win all the games, we will win the League,” he also said, emphasising that there is a long way to go.

Olmo stressed that Barcelona have to improve to compete on all fronts once more, and when asked the way back, he said,

“It depends mainly on us. Style is what it is and we are not going to change it. For two games we are not going to create a hecatomb,” he added.

The player was then quizzed on whether or not he saw a comeback in the Copa del Rey against Atletico Madrid to be feasible, and he admitted that he did not stop dreaming.

“We return to our people and we have to find ourselves again with victory.”

Olmo self-critical about Barcelona’s recent displays. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Olmo also gave his two cents on Barcelona’s path forward in the UEFA Champions League, and was asked if he preferred facing PSG or Newcastle United in the next round.

“It will be against a great, whoever it is.”

“The year is special. Last season we had him so close. That final was taken out of our hands. [We have to] bring it home,” he added.

On his personal fitness and form, Olmo expressed that he was comfortable and satisfied with how matters were going.

“I have found the key and I am doing things that are going well for me and it shows in the field.”

“I don’t like it, because I don’t consider myself that way,” he added on being labelled as a ‘fragile’ player.

Finally, Olmo spoke on some of his teammates, beginning with Pedri.

“[He is] one of the best in the world in his position.”

On the captain Ronald Araujo who took some time off mid-season to boost his morale, Olmo said, “[He is] very brave.”

Finally, he praised Joan Garcia, who has been stunning in goal for Barcelona.

“It’s amazing. He’s saving us on some occasions.”