Flick talks Lamine, Lewandowski, Kounde, Balde, Dumfries ahead of Inter Milan vs Barcelona | OneFootball

Barcelona get set to play perhaps their most important match of the season so far, when they take on Inter Milan in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

The Blaugrana played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg at home, pulling off a fine comeback after having gone two goals behind early in the game.

Barcelona are hoping to make it to the finals of the competition for the first time in a decade but it will be anything but easy against a tough Inter side in their home.

On the eve of the match, Barça head coach Hansi Flick spoke to the media in his pre-match press conference, shedding light on the team’s preparation for the huge encounter.

“Should I put more pressure on the players? I don’t think so. We’ve won two titles, nobody knew at the start of the season how we would be now,” said Flick, discussing the atmosphere in the dressing room.

“We want to enjoy ourselves and at the moment that’s the way it is, I’m sure that’s what Olmo means by ‘fiesta,’“ he added.

Denzel Dumfries was the biggest threat for Barcelona in the first leg, scoring two goals and posing a threat from the right flank as well as in set-piece situations. On how the Catalans plan to deal with him tomorrow, Flick noted:

“With the staff we analysed everything, we have to defend much better and there might be some changes. That’s as far as I can go.”

On any particular player from Inter Milan that he sees as a major threat, he added: “I don’t focus on any specific player, I always look at the team.”

“We have to be more focused in defence, yes, they are very effective and very experienced,” he further stated.

Robert Lewandowski earned his medical clearance earlier today and has been named in the Barcelona squad for the trip to Milan. Providing an update on the veteran striker’s condition, Flick said:

“Lewandowski is feeling good and can be available on the bench if we need him.”

Lewandowski is back. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

On the performances of Lamine Yamal, the 60-year-old tactician added: “I’ve been here for eight months now, I’m already familiar, Lamine is a genius at 17, he’s incredible, but for me, it’s all about the team. I want the players to be at the highest level.”

When asked if not having enough experienced players in the squad could be a problem for the semi-final, he noted:

“We have won two titles this season, every player improves when they play this type of match, for a player there should be no pressure, you have to enjoy the semi-final and show your teammates how good you are, you must not give up.”

Discussing the absence of key defenders Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde and how Barcelona can make up for it, Flick said:

“Injuries can’t be changed, the absences of Kounde and Balde are important, but Eric, Hector, Araujo can play…. They will all help us.”

On if he had any motivational messages or videos for players leading up to the game, the manager stated:

“The players have to enjoy this match, I want them to play without pressure, I see good dynamics, connection between players, I think we are playing very well and we have to show it.”

Talking about the match and how the managers can impact it from the touchline, Flick remarked:

“Football is very complex and you have to take many factors into account. The players, the game plan, the changes? I hope we make better changes than Inter can make.

“They have clear automatisms. They have fantastic players up front and we will also have to stop their build-up phase. The players have to show how good they are. That’s football.”

Barcelona were particularly vulnerable while defending corners in the first leg. And whether one of the strategies to avoid such a situation was to ensure they do not concede corners, Flick replied:

“It could be a good idea, yes, we have talked about it and the players know what they have to do.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo