Hansi Flick will renew: "I want to win the Champions League with Barça"

San Juan DespíIn the preview of the Barça-Celta match this Wednesday (9:30 PM, Movistar), Hansi Flick has defended that the team has recovered from their Champions League elimination and that "the atmosphere is very good" to achieve what would be the second consecutive league title with the German on the bench. "The players are well, happy, and motivated. I see it in training. Now we have to transfer it to the remaining matches." The Barça coach has praised his players, a very young group, and has recalled his affection for Barça and also for the city of Barcelona. This has led him to talk about his continuity in the Catalan institution, beyond the next season (2026-27), in which his current contract would end.

“I am honest, I have said it other times: this will be my last step in my career and right now I feel very good. Yes, I would like to renew my contract, but now is not the time to talk about it because we have important weeks”, he said in an initial response, but he became more animated as the journalists who had traveled to the Sant Joan Despí Sports City insisted on this issue. Flick, without losing his infectious smile at any moment, assured that "they will try to win the Champions League again." In fact, he defined it as "a dream," both for him and for his players, to bring the Champions League trophy to Barcelona.

The Barça manager also said that he wants to manage the team with the Camp Nou finished. In this way, he has made it understood, publicly and for the first time, that he will continue for more years with Barça, at least until 2028, in what will be his last professional experience on the bench before retiring. “There are two things I would like: to win the Champions League and to be Barça's coach when the stadium is finished”, concluded the former coach of Bayern Munich and the German national team. "Although it will always depend on performance," he clarified.

Improvements to win the Champions League

Julián Álvarez is the best-rated option«In these matches, momentum and details also matter. Now, at the end of the season, it is important to have all the players available, and we didn't have De Jong, Raphinha... Last year we had Iñigo, who was a great leader... and we learned. We need players who lead on the field». And also in the locker room, where the Basque center-back was also a highly respected figure. Flick has also pointed out that he talks to Deco often and they have been studying for months how to strengthen the team. «We talk every day when he is around. We also talk on the phone. We are focusing on next season». And the coach added: «We have very clear ideas, but now is not the time to talk about it».

It is no coincidence that Flick has mentioned Iñigo's absence as a fundamental loss. Strengthening the left-sided center-back position - where the coach has already had to work a miracle, with the relocation of Gerard Martín - is a top priority for next summer, along with reinforcing the center-forward position. Providing more leadership in the heart of the defense - key to the German coach's brave approach - and surrounding Lamine Yamal well are the main priorities. Julián Álvarez is the best-rated option - and also the most complicated - for the forward line, while Alessandro Bastoni, who wants to come to Barça, is the chosen one for the defense.