Barcelona take inspiration from ‘Ted Lasso’ ahead of Atletico Madrid comeback bid | OneFootball

Barcelona have made their mindset clear ahead of their biggest test of the season against Atletico Madrid.

In the build-up to the Champions League quarter-final second leg, the club shared a symbolic message across their social media platforms. 

A single word stood out – “Believe” – followed by the phrase “believe to feel alive”, which happens to be a reference from the famous TV show Ted Lasso.

As it is in the show, the poster with the slogan is pinned inside the dressing room, with several players placing their hands on it, reinforcing the sense of togetherness within the squad. 

Hansi Flick is seen overseeing the moment, highlighting his role in driving this collective mentality.

Key figures such as Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Fermin Lopez, Frenkie de Jong and Joan Garcia are all part of the scene.

Facing a difficult task

Barcelona head into the clash needing to overturn a 0-2 deficit from the first leg. It is a difficult task, especially away from home, but the mood within the camp has shifted in recent days.

Their 4-1 win over Espanyol has played a major role in that change. 

As such, the performance strengthened their position in La Liga, extending their lead over Real Madrid to nine points, and it also injected confidence into the squad at a crucial moment.

With seven league games remaining, Barcelona are in control domestically, and that stability allows them to focus fully on Europe, where the objective is to complete the comeback.

The message from the dressing room, in that context, is pretty much straightforward. 

Barcelona are going to Madrid with belief, and under Flick, the squad appears united in chasing a result that could prove to be a huge boost in their European ambitions.