Every word Hansi Flick said in his Barcelona vs Villarreal pre-match press conference

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·27 February 2026

Every word Hansi Flick said in his Barcelona vs Villarreal pre-match press conference

FC Barcelona returned to winning ways when they faced Levante in their last La Liga match. With that win, they got the leadership of the league table back, as Real Madrid fell to Osasuna.

Now, the Catalans have another difficult match awaiting them, as they face Villarreal in their next league game on Saturday. Ahead of this game, Hansi Flick talked to the press and spoke about different aspects related to his team and the club.

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As Mundo Deportivo has reported, the German coach started by warning his team of what to avoid in tomorrow’s game:

“If we remember the last match in Villarreal, we had a bit of luck. They had very good transitions. We must not make unnecessary mistakes, and we must play with our style.”

Newcastle United were drawn to face Barcelona in the Round of 16 of the UCL, and Flick commented on this tie as well:

“All matches are important. I don’t celebrate not facing PSG; you have to respect the opponent. Everyone wants to reach the final, and Newcastle also wants to win the Champions League. All opponents are difficult.”

The Blaugrana trainer rued the injury suffered by Frenkie de Jong:

“We don’t like a player being unable to play, especially someone of Frenkie’s quality. It’s not an easy moment, but it also gives the chance for other players to play. I focus on the positives.”

The German coach did not overstate the importance of being in the easier bracket of the UCL road to the final:

“But do you know who we can play? All Champions League teams are very good and have great quality. Playing Atletico or Tottenham, if we go through, is also very difficult. It’s fantastic to have this opportunity, but we must respect all teams.”

When asked if he has seen any improvements in his team, the Barcelona coach did not give a clear answer:

“These two weeks have been important, but in the end, it comes down to how you play in the match and how you face duels against opponents. Until the international break we have seven matches, and tomorrow is the first opportunity to start well.”

Hansi Flick has already completed 100 official games in charge of the Catalan team, and he was honored to have reached this milestone:

“It’s a great honor to reach this number of matches. For me, it was a dream to coach this club, and I enjoy every day with these players and this club. The presentation was a private event, and I decided to attend. I don’t have much contact with him because he’s no longer president, but I wish him the best.”

The German coach did not appear too worried about missing players like Pedri or Frenkie:

“All teams have problems, and that’s what we have to manage. We have a lot of quality in the squad and different options to play. I see it as other players getting opportunities; we focus on what we do have available.”

The Barcelona coach appeared to be taking it one game at a time in La Liga:

“It’s still a long road, but it’s like last season. If you keep winning matches, that’s one fewer opportunity for rivals to take first place. It’s important to keep working well so we can win.”

Flick was reminded that his numbers in his first 100 games in charge of the Blaugrana team are even better than Pep’s, to which he replied:

“I never look at statistics. At the end of the season, what matters is finishing first. I focus on improving day by day. That’s our job—the staff’s and mine—helping players reach their best version.”

The German coach hinted at his team not being in the best physical condition possible:

“If you’d asked me before the Atlético match, I’d have said yes as well. We’re focused on what we can improve and on our objectives. We still have room to improve and to keep winning matches—that’s what matters.”

Hansi Flick was keen to lead the Catalan team into another 100 matches:

“Why not? I’ve said it before—I enjoy the city, the team, and the club. It’s a great honor to coach Barça, and the players are doing a fantastic job. Everyone should be proud of this team.”

The German trainer also commented on the change in the penalty for disciplinary misconduct:

“It has nothing to do with that (laughs). I think as a coach, I can improve a bit. Before, it was stressful because I’d look at the clock when there were 60 seconds left and think, ‘let’s see when they arrive.’ It’s something I don’t like because it’s also pressure for me, so I decided to speak with the captains and leave the decision to them. Since then, nobody has arrived late, so I suppose we made the right decision.”

Hopefully, Hansi Flick will be able to make the required improvements in his team ahead of the crucial phase of the season. For now, he will have to ensure his team gets the better of Villarreal to retain the leadership of the league table.