Flick talks Cancelo, Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Rashford, Lamine ahead o…

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick addressed the media ahead of a crucial UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atletico Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou, offering insight into his team’s mindset, preparation, and key players.

Having already faced Atletico in La Liga just days earlier, there is a sense of familiarity between the two sides.

However, Flick was quick to underline that European nights bring a completely different challenge.

When asked whether the previous meeting gives Barcelona an advantage, the German coach said,

“It’s different. Not entirely, but different. The Champions League is a different competition.

“That’s how I see it. We’re playing against a tough opponent with fantastic players. We want to advance to the next round.”

On Atletico Madrid

Barcelona will once again face Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Expanding on Atlético’s strengths, Flick emphasised the difficulty of breaking down Diego Simeone’s side, highlighting both their structure and mentality, as he explained,

“Atletico is a tough team. They have the right attitude, fast players, and are strong on the field. On Saturday, they rested several players and still played well.

“It’s not easy to score two goals against Atletico. That’s all I can say. It’s always tough. The match will be very exciting.

“We’ll try to get a good result, but we know we have to play there. We want to reach our goal.”

With Atletico known for their aggressive style, Flick was also questioned about discipline and how Barcelona plan to cope with the physicality of the game.

“We have to focus on our performance and what we do. We have to focus on our own game. That’s what I want to see.”

On the tactical front, Flick hinted that his team have been working on specific ideas, though he kept details under wraps, saying,

“Today was just another day of practising something special. It’s good to do it on the field.

“Practising it on the field is important. We did it today, and hopefully we’ll see the results tomorrow.”

On Joao Cancelo

Attention also turned to Joao Cancelo, with suggestions that the full-back wants to stay.

Cancelo wants to continue at Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Flick, however, stressed the importance of focus and consistency on the match, stating,

“We have to focus on playing. The important thing is that we stay focused from the start.

“We’re ready for these two games. It’s the Champions League—it’s great to play in. Everyone wants to play.”

When asked about Cancelo’s future, Flick avoided speculation but praised his current impact, explaining,

“I don’t like to talk about the future. He’s playing at a high level. He played in the United States and put in a great performance on Saturday.

“He was completely exhausted by the end. He’s a great professional with incredible technique.”

Is the team ready?

On the physical demands of the season, Flick acknowledged the challenge but remained optimistic about his squad’s readiness,

“I hope not. We’ll see tomorrow. In La Liga, we want to win, and that was an important victory. Tomorrow is different.

“Tomorrow, everyone wants to give their best and play at the highest level. Everyone is looking forward to this match. It’s a great opportunity for everyone.”

The Barcelona manager also took a moment to highlight the contribution of the club’s young talents, particularly Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin, saying,

“We’re a really young team. Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin are giving it their all, playing every minute of every game.

“I really appreciate that. They’re young. Gerard Martin’s transition from the B team to this level has been fantastic.”

On Rashford

Speaking about Marcus Rashford, Flick emphasised his importance while also pointing out the need for balance in his game, stating,

Flick addressed Lamine Yamal’s reaction. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

“He’s important. We know he’s fantastic with the ball, but defending is part of the game.

“He’s doing well and adapting. Atlético does a great job of that in the Champions League.”

Lamine Yamal’s anger

Finally, Flick addressed the emotional reaction of Lamine Yamal after being substituted in the previous match, offering a balanced and supportive perspective on the young star.

“What we have to remember is that Lamine is 18 years old. He’s an incredible player. Sometimes you see what he does, and it’s amazing—especially in one-on-one situations.

“But he’s only 18. Sometimes he gets upset when I sub him out, maybe because he’s trying to take on four or five defenders and shoot. He might be frustrated. He’s emotional, and that’s okay.

“We support him. We help him grow. We have to look out for him. I know everyone is watching him because he’s fantastic.

“But he’s only 18. We all make mistakes. We’ll always protect him. He’ll be the best in the future,” he concluded.

Source: AS

What an awesome group of friends does Ibai Aguirre have?

The 19-year-old celebrated his La Liga debut last weekend, coming on for just under five minutes in Real Sociedad’s 2–0 win over UD Levante.

But Aguirre probably felt even better when he arrived home after the match.

A whole crowd of his buddies was waiting there, cheering him on wildly and chanting his name.

So, how was your weekend?

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

Every incident in every Celtic game is analysed and magnified by our rival’s supporters, and they have the cheek to call us obsessed…

Kelechi Iheanacho scores the winner. Dundee v Celtic. Sunday 5 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Yet again in the aftermath of a Celtic victory, supporters of our bitter rivals across the City have been busy doing what they do best, and that is howling at the moon, declaring to all and sundry that we are being aided to victory by corrupt officials.

I’m struggling to write this due to my outbreak of hysterics over such an outrageous claim, especially from a group of supporters who’s right back is their club’s record goalscorer due to the amount of spot kicks he’s converted in his career north of the border, particularly before the VAR era.

If you were to believe the Ibrox supporter base, Celtic never ever win a game fair and square. According to the deluded Bears, we only win games due a helping hand from the Scottish referees, whether that’s on the park or off it in the VAR room.

Referee Steven McLean at Dens Park. Dundee v Celtic. Sunday 5 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Every goal we score is either offside, or aided by an illegal move of some sort. Every foul our players commit is deemed a red card offence. Every incident in our box is seen as a penalty to the opposition, whilst the ones we get at the other end aren’t worthy of being awarded in the small minds of the Bears.

In a nutshell, we don’t deserve to win any game. It’s all a conspiracy from the SFA and the officials to make sure Celtic win the title ahead of Hearts and the Rangers.

Well, our officials really are worse than hopeless as they can’t even cheat properly due to our current third place status! Even in a weekend when their side went top for the first time in two years, albeit for just under 24 hours, Social media has been awash with deluded Bears ranting about how Celtic have benefited from what they consider to be blatant ‘cheating’.

Yang opens the scoring. Dundee v Celtic. Sunday 5 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

To be clear, to date this term Celtic have received less spot kicks than the team from Ibrox. We’ve also had more spot kicks awarded against us. Whilst on the disciplinary stakes, we’ve received more red cards.

Not only are they wrong, they are well and truly obsessed with the most successful club in Scotland.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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You were a youth coach at Benfica, managed various clubs, and worked in different roles before arriving at Central Coast Mariners as an assistant manager. How would you describe the early years of your coaching career?

“My early years were largely spent working with under-19s and reserve teams, bridging the gap between youth football and the senior game. A big part of my role was preparing players to make that transition successfully, helping them adapt, develop, and ultimately thrive at senior level.

“That process became something of a specialty for me, working with players on the edge of breaking through, or integrating younger players into senior squads and giving them the tools to flourish. Many of my experiences during that time revolved around nurturing that progression and setting players up to move on to bigger opportunities.”

“It was fantastic. It was a Primavera-level tournament, so again it sat right on that transition between youth and senior football. Several players earned professional contracts off the back of that competition, which made it even more rewarding.

“At Lusitana, especially working in Senegal, the job was incredibly hands-on. You had to do everything, organising logistics, ensuring players were looked after day-to-day, managing recruitment, and travelling across the country to identify talent. It was not just coaching, it was building a structure from the ground up.

“In some ways, it was more demanding than Benfica. At Benfica, the standards are incredibly high, Champions League level, but you have a full structure in place. At Lusitana, you had to create everything yourself. Sometimes that even meant teaching players basic life skills, like how to eat properly in formal settings during international tournaments.

“Winning that competition was especially meaningful because we became the first African team to do so. We were up against strong opposition with top coaches, and it showed what was possible with the right approach and commitment.”

At Central Coast Mariners, you worked with the under-20s before moving into the first team alongside Nick Montgomery. What are your main memories from that period?

“I actually joined because of Nick. We met during our UEFA coaching course and stayed in touch. We started together with the under-20s and reserve teams, managing around 40 players across both squads.

“That experience was invaluable. We had to constantly adapt, sometimes we would have 32 players, sometimes 40, depending on first-team needs. Players would move up at the last minute, so we had to be flexible and responsive. It really developed our ability to manage large groups and adjust in real time.

“What made it special was seeing that pathway come full circle. When we moved into the first team, around 10 of those players came with us. Many have since gone on to have successful careers internationally. Watching players you have developed progress to that level is incredibly rewarding.”

You went on to win the A-League Championship in 2023. How satisfying was it to achieve that success, especially in such a competitive league?

“It was hugely satisfying. In our first season, we reached the cup final for the first time in the club’s history, even though we narrowly lost. The following season, we went one step further and won the championship.

“What made it even more special was the context. We had the lowest budget in the league and the youngest squad, with an average age of just 22. We were clear underdogs, but that worked in our favour. Most people in the country were supporting us because of the way we played.

“We built a team with a strong identity. Players like Jason Cummings revitalised their careers, and others who had not succeeded elsewhere found a platform with us. We were a group that people did not expect much from, but we proved what was possible.”

The Grand Final win itself, 6–1 against Melbourne City, was extraordinary. What made that performance so special?

“It was an incredible night. Melbourne City were a top team with strong players and staff, so it was a real test. But what stood out was our mentality.

“We never played to protect a 1–0 lead. We always wanted more. That attacking mindset connected with the fans. In Australia, the sporting culture values entertainment and high-scoring games, so we embraced that. We wanted to give people a spectacle every time we stepped onto the pitch.

“There was, of course, strong tactical and technical preparation behind it, but the key was playing without fear. That approach allowed us to deliver one of the most memorable games in the league’s history.”

You then moved to Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership. How do you reflect on that experience?

“We would have loved more time there. That was always the plan. It was a challenging but valuable experience.

“The Scottish Premiership is very competitive and physically demanding. It is a different culture compared to Australia, with more emphasis on strength, discipline, and intensity. Every challenge is full commitment.

“We believed we could make a real impact, especially with a full transfer window, but unfortunately, we did not get that opportunity. Still, it was a great learning experience and a step up in many ways. It is a strong league with quality across multiple teams, not just the top clubs.”

After Hibernian, you joined Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur. How did that move come about, and what was it like working with him?

“It came as a surprise, to be honest. I did not know Ange personally beforehand, but he must have followed our work in Australia. What we achieved there, especially with limited resources, probably stood out.

“Joining Tottenham was a completely different environment. Suddenly, you have everything in place, resources and structure, and the expectation is simply to perform.

“Working with Ange was a fantastic experience. I genuinely consider him one of the best coaches in the world. His achievements across different countries speak for themselves, and being part of that environment was a huge learning opportunity.”

Winning the Europa League with Tottenham was a historic achievement. What does that mean to you?

“It is something that will stay with me forever. Tottenham had not won that trophy for over 40 years, so to be part of that success is incredibly special.

“But I also value every step of the journey. Central Coast Mariners, Hibernian, even shorter experiences all contribute to your growth. There is always something to learn and improve.

“That said, winning a major European trophy is something that will be remembered long after we are gone. It is a proud moment, and one I believe we can replicate in the future.”

“The key is finding the right environment, one that supports our style, our ideas, and our ambition to win.

“Even in short spells, like at Nottingham Forest, we could see something building. The results did not always reflect it, but internally, we knew progress was being made. The foundations were there.

“Moving forward, it is about joining a club that believes in the process and gives us the time to implement it properly. With the right backing, I am confident we can achieve success again.”

Chelsea scouts will apparently be in attendance tonight for the Sporting vs Arsenal game to have eyes on Maxi Araujo.

But it is unlikely to just be them, with a whole host of clubs watching the versatile left-sided player lately.

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Portuguese newspaper Record reported that as many as 12 English clubs sent scouts to Wembley to watch him in action for Uruguay against England in the last international break. Tottenham and Chelsea certainly were among the clubs present.

Apparently, Tottenham will also be present at the next two Arsenal vs Sporting games to watch the same player as well.

Sporting host Arsenal tonight in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal. The return leg will take place in London on April 15th.

Chelsea looking at Araujo

Sport Witness have the report, and they confirm that as well as these scouting missions, Chelsea have also made contact with the reps of Araujo.

Chelsea are looking at a possible summer move to sign the Uruguay international, but it sounds like they could end up having a lot of competition as well.

In other news today

I personally didn’t think it was fair that Fernandez got punishment but Marc Cucurella didn’t. There was variations in their comments but they both essentially did the same thing. Podcasters have been debating this very subject.

Chelsea academy star Ryan Kavuma-McQueen made his debut for the club against Port Vale at the weekend, and he has since been compared with academy graduate Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is of course now at Nottingham Forest.

If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.

Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here: