Barça “want to be part of the top eight,” insists Dani Olmo | OneFootball

Barcelona will look to rise into the top eight of the UEFA Champions League and qualify directly for the round-of-16 with a win against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday.

The final round of League Phase games will see all 36 teams kick off concurrently at 20:00 GMT, with clubs needing to keep track of how their progression could be affected by results elsewhere.

The Blaugrana sit ninth ahead of their meeting with Copenhagen at the Spotify Camp Nou, and are guaranteed at least a place in the play-offs. Victory could see them progress directly into the round-of-16, if results elsewhere fall in their favour.

“We’re qualified, but we want to be part of the top eight”

Speaking in a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Dani Olmo affirmed that Barcelona will strive to finish in the top eight and bypass what could be a tricky playoff tie.

Barcelona’s automatic progression to the round-of-16 would be aided by a hefty scoreline in Catalunya, and Olmo insisted that his side will aim for a golejada.

“We know we’re qualified,” he explained, “but we want to be part of the top eight and that’s our objective.

“We’re preparing for this game in the same way we always do. We’re a team that arrives in the box a lot and scores goals. The first thing is to win, and then to win by a lot, but that’s what we always try to do.”

“Wherever Flick puts me, I’ll always give my best”

Olmo may be required to play in a different position on Wednesday, given injuries to midfielders Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.

That doesn’t faze the 27-year-old, who accepted that while “they’re important players, it’s not an excuse.

“I can play in those positions, and so can [Marc] Bernal or [Marc] Casadó. I’ll adapt and I’ll play wherever the coach wants me to. I’ve done it this season and I haven’t had any problems. Wherever [Hansi] Flick puts me, I’ll always give my best.

“I’m happy with how I’m playing, but still I can be even better. I’m being more consistent and that’s going well for me, and I’m also being more clinical in front of goal – but I think I can improve.

“The best part of the season is still to come and I want to carry on helping the team, scoring, playing and winning,” the Terrassa-born star concluded.