In this round of La Liga, Barcelona will face Levante. Coach Flick discussed the team's preparations at the pre-match press conference.

How do you prevent the team from getting carried away? Is the praise from the outside world excessive?

We are very happy with our current performance, but we also know that we must play at this level in every game. That is our attitude. We know we are strong, but we must prove it through our actions, which is what matters most. Intensity, focus, and activity—if we're missing just 10% of these elements, it won't work.

Does the team have room for improvement?

Continuous improvement is our goal, and it is the responsibility of both coaches and players. Everyone must have a desire for progress, and I believe we can achieve it.

Is this the level you envisioned Barcelona reaching?

I think this is how we want to play—nothing extraordinary. We know that football changes rapidly. I'm happy that we are enjoying this style of football right now, but we must remain 100% focused. If this mentality changes, we will go in the wrong direction, which we don't want to see.

In the last league match, you rotated five starters. Given the congested fixture schedule ahead, will rotation become standard practice? Is rotation also a way to keep the entire squad in shape?

You have to accept that other players will get their chances—that's part of the game. I've said that we have two or three quality players for each position, so if someone else plays, the squad must accept it. After the Feyenoord match, I said I was very satisfied with our training quality, and nothing has changed in the past two days. We are in good form and must maintain it.

Fàbregas said that this Barcelona team is intimidating and always finds a way to solve problems. Are you pleased to hear such comments?

We focus on what we can control. I also admire what Cesc is doing with Como. They are playing very well too—their match against Leipzig was excellent; they played at a high level. I only focus on the next match, not next Wednesday or the game in Seville, just tomorrow's match. This step-by-step mentality is very important, and it's what I want the team to maintain. The situation is good now, but we know it's a long journey.

Is your goal for this season to have three different types of strikers? Raphinha, Jesus, and Hamza have different characteristics.

You're right—they all have different characteristics. But Gavi can also play as a number nine, and so can Olmo. He has shown us over the past two seasons that he has the ability to play this position, as does Fermín. We have many options, and currently Raphinha is in excellent form. When he's in that kind of form, for me, he is one of the best players in the world.

No one has asked about our opponent yet today—are you happy about that? What do you think of Levante?

That depends on you—it's not my job (laughs). You have to decide what you want to ask me, what you want to know. We will play against Levante, who performed excellently against Betis, with good positioning and clear attacking ideas. It will be an exciting match because we will be up against a good team.

Hamza didn't play much before renewing his contract. Is this related to his relatively low release clause and the risk of other teams trying to sign him?

I think the club did an excellent job because this player performed well in preseason and also actively competed with others for the center-forward position. As I said, his characteristics are unique—something no one else in the team has. He is the future of this team and the club, so we naturally had to keep him.

Is this the most balanced squad you've had since starting at Barcelona?

Yes. Our expected goals (xG) are high in every game, and our opponents' xG is much lower than last season. Our attack is stronger because the forwards are scoring many goals. But defense is also very important to me. Everyone in defense is performing well—especially our number sixes like Rodri and Bernal, and our number eights like Pedri and Gavi.

Since the World Cup, Cubarsí's performance has improved significantly, and I'm very pleased. He is very confident now, very focused, and his physical fitness has improved, which is particularly important for a center-back. Moreover, his ball-playing ability is excellent, and together with Christensen or Piqué, he provides us tremendous support. And let's not forget our number one—he is also performing amazingly.

Benjamin Kugel, the fitness coach, joined the team this summer, and the results have been immediate. What do you think of his arrival? Can you share how the fitness preparation is structured?

The philosophy has indeed changed. The key is the players' movement on the field. Based on this, we have intensified our strength training, and you can see that the team's physical condition is excellent. This is not only due to new coaching staff or new players, but more importantly, we play as a unit, which is fantastic. Everyone can feel this positive energy, which also helps players maintain peak performance.

In the members' survey, Barcelona members rated your contract renewal as the highest-rated decision for the 2025-26 season. What do you make of this?

I don't want to talk too much about myself because I'm just the coach—the players are the ones doing the work on the field. I have an excellent team and outstanding support staff. Everything is going well right now, and I'm happy to be part of this project, but I know I'm not the most important person at this club. The focus should be on the players, and I thank them for the attitude and mentality they show in every training session and every match.

Many players have expressed their desire to win the Champions League. Is it harder to motivate players for the league than for the Champions League? When you meet fans on the street, do they also emphasize winning the Champions League?

The situation hasn't changed compared to two years ago. Two years ago, when we spoke to fans, everyone also said, "We must win the Champions League this year." Winning the Champions League is certainly our dream and our goal, but I remember the president saying the league is also very important. Winning three consecutive league titles would be a tremendous achievement, but the road is still long. I focus more on our daily training performance and how to maintain our excellent form. Physical recovery is very important, including recovery sessions, diet, and sleep. Especially with three games a week right now, taking care of physical and mental health is crucial, and occasional relaxation is also beneficial.

Players must understand what is good for them, and we will provide support. We have many specialists responsible for looking after the players. Players must understand what it takes to reach their peak level, and we must provide the necessary support and ensure that various facilities are available to help them recover between matches.

Our facilities also need upgrading, so you can see we are building a new gym. I hope it will be completed soon so that we have more space and can better help players recover. We have to do this step by step, not just pressure players to do this and that. The coaching staff and the club also need to take action to create a better environment for them.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com