"Carles will support us from above, we will play for him"

BarcelonaStill in shock from the sudden death by Dr. Carlos Miñarro, Barça held their last training session on Monday before the Champions League match against Benfica, where the blaugranas are playing to qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition. After the session, Hansi Flick spoke to the media. The coach was the first member of the dressing room to speak publicly after the death. On Saturday, after the match against Osasuna was suspended, it was president Joan Laporta who issued a small institutional statement of condolences.

"It's a great loss. Carlos was a great person but also a great doctor. This combination was truly incredible for the club and for the team. He was a very important part of our success. We will miss him, but life is like that. He will surely support us from above. We want to play for him too," said Flick. Before starting his appearance, a respectful minute of silence was observed.

These have been days of group therapy at Barça. On Sunday, both the coach and the president spoke to the players in training. "I see the players focused. They are handling it well. The match is important for the club, for the players and for the fans. We want to do well," added the coach.

Barça: a decisive week after the tragedy

Flick, who insisted that the team "is managing the situation well," tried to focus the press conference on football. He recalled that, despite the victory, nothing has been decided. "I already said in Lisbon that it was only the first game," added the German, who will lose Pau Cubarsí after the red card he received in Da Luz a week ago.

"The players are focused. In the morning talk we talked about the good and bad of the first leg. I don't think anyone thinks it's over. The attitude is right," said Flick, who admitted that this week is one of the most important of the season. "It's similar to what we felt the week we played against Bayern and Madrid. We are in a good frame of mind and we have confidence in ourselves." If his team plays for its future in Europe on Tuesday, on Sunday they can start to decide the league at the Metropolitano against Atlético de Madrid.