‘They’re very close’… Rivaldo compares Hansi Flick’s team to Pep Guardiola’s legendary Barcelona side | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have managed to turn a lot of heads this season already. The Catalan giants, thanks to their performances across various major competitions, have established themselves as strong contenders for everything. However, there is still a lot of work left to do for Barcelona.

Still, that does not stop others from taking notice of this exceptional team and praising the work that has been done by Hansi Flick so far. From being a team that was in a rebuilding phase to now being a dominant competitor, the German coach has really worked wonders.

Even Rivaldo, a legend for both Barcelona and Brazil, could not help but speak about this team. He even spoke about a possible comparison with Pep Guardiola’s legendary Barça side of the past, as highlighted by SPORT, and he seems to think that they might actually be quite close in quality:

“If they’re not already at that level, they’re very close. In any case, it’s clear they’re not far from reaching that standard and could finish the season in spectacular fashion. The team has everything—and they’re very close to winning all three competitions. If that happens, Barcelona will be the talk of the football world.”

As for whether or not Barcelona can become a European powerhouse again and showcase Spanish football’s strength, Rivaldo believes they must first take another major step:

“Such a shift would be very positive. But we still have to wait and see how Barcelona finishes the season in La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey.”

However, he remains optimistic about the Catalan club’s chances of making such a thing happen:

“This kind of change would be great—not just for Barcelona, but for football overall. It would raise competitiveness and show the beauty of the style Barcelona has been playing, especially since the managerial change. It’s truly admirable.”

As for their tie against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, one where the first leg was won dominantly by Barcelona, Rivaldo seems to have no hope for the German side:

“I can say this with confidence: Barcelona are already in the semifinals. With all due respect, there’s no way Borussia can score four goals against this Barça.”

Keeping that in mind and backing Barcelona to reach the final, the Brazilian icon even gave his predicted final of this year’s UEFA Champions League campaign as well:

“I think Barcelona and Arsenal will be in Munich on May 31.”

As of right now, Barça remain in contention for all three major titles. They are currently at the top of the table in La Liga, they will be facing Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, and they will also be looking to reach the semi-final stage of the Champions League for the first time since the 2018/2019 season.