In this round of league matches, Barcelona will face Levante, and coach Flick outlined his team's preparations at the pre-match press conference.

How do you prevent the team from becoming overconfident? Are the external compliments slightly excessive?

We're very pleased with our current performance, but we also know that we must play at this level in every match—that's our mentality. We know we're very strong, but we must prove it through our actions, and that's what matters most. High intensity, focus, and activity—if even 10% of these elements slip, it's not enough.

Is there room for improvement in the team?

Continuous improvement is our goal, and it's the job of both the coach and the players. Everyone must have the desire to improve themselves, and I believe we can do that.

Is this the level you imagined Barcelona could reach?

I think this is the way we want to play—there's nothing extraordinary about it. We know that football changes quickly. I'm pleased that we're enjoying our football right now, but we must also remain 100% focused. If that mentality changes, we'll go in the wrong direction, and that's something we don't want to see.

In the last league match, you rotated five players in the starting lineup. Given the busy schedule ahead, will rotation become routine? Is rotation also a way to help the entire squad maintain fitness?

You have to accept that other players will get playing time—that's part of the game. I've said that we have two or three players available for each position, so when someone else plays in a certain position, the players must accept it. After our last match against Feyenoord, I said I was very satisfied with the quality of our training, and nothing has changed in the last two days. We're in good shape and must maintain it.

Fàbregas said that this Barcelona team is resilient and always finds a way to overcome problems. Are you pleased to hear such praise?

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

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

You're right, they all have different characteristics, but Gundogan can also play as a number 9, and so can Olmo. He's proven to us over the last two years that he has the ability to play in this position, and so can Fermín. We have many options, and Raphinha is in outstanding form right now. When he's playing like that, to me, he's one of the best players in the world.

Nobody has asked about today's opponent yet. Are you pleased about that? What's your opinion on Levante?

That's up to you—it's not my job (laughs). You have to decide what you want to ask me, what you want to know from me. We'll play against Levante, and they played well against Betis, with good positioning and clear attacking ideas. It will be an interesting match because we're playing against a good team.

Hamza didn't play much before his contract extension. Is this related to his relatively low buy-out clause, which may have caused other teams to pursue him?

I think the club has done very solid work because this player performed well in preseason and is actively competing with other players for the forward position. As I said, his characteristics are different from the others, and he brings something unique to the team. He's the future of this team and this club, so of course we must keep him.

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

Yes. Our expected goals (xG) are high in every match, and our opponents' xG is much lower than last season. Our attack is stronger because our front line is scoring many goals. But for me, defence is also very important. Everyone in defence—especially our number 6 player, whether it's Rodri or Bernal—is playing very well, and the same goes for Pedri and Gavi at number 8.

Since the World Cup, Cubarsi's performance has improved, and I'm very pleased. He's very confident now, very focused, and his physical fitness has improved, which is very important for a centre-back. And his ball-playing ability is excellent, providing great support alongside Andreas (Christensen) or Gerard. And don't forget our number 1—he's also performing brilliantly.

Benjamin Kugel, the fitness coach, joined the team this summer, and the impact was immediate. What's your opinion on his arrival? Can you explain how fitness preparation is conducted?

The philosophy has indeed changed. The key is player movement on the pitch. Based on this, we've strengthened our strength training, and it's clear that the team's physical fitness is very good. This isn't just about the arrival of a new coach or new players, but more importantly, we're playing as one unit, which is remarkable. Everyone can feel this positive energy, which also helps players maintain a high level of performance.

In a member survey, Barcelona's highest-rated decision for the 2025-26 season was your contract extension. What's your opinion on this?

I don't want to talk too much about myself, because I'm just a coach—it's the players who do the work on the pitch. I have an outstanding team and a great group of experts. Everything is going well right now, and I'm also enjoying this different way of life. But I know I'm not an important person at this club. The players deserve more attention, and I'm grateful to them for the attitude and mentality they've shown 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 tell you they want the Champions League more?

The situation hasn't changed at all compared to two years ago. Two years ago, when we spoke with 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 that the league is also very important. Winning three consecutive league titles would be an extraordinary achievement, but this is a long journey. I'm more focused on our daily training performance and how to maintain this outstanding level. Physical recovery is very important, including recovery sessions, diet, and sleep. Especially during this current period of three matches a week, keeping the body and mind in good shape is crucial, and occasional rest is also beneficial.

Players must understand what's good for them, and we will provide support. We have many experts responsible for looking after the players. Players must know how to reach their peak level, and we must provide appropriate support and ensure that various facilities are working to help them recover to their best condition between matches.

Our facilities also need to be upgraded, so you can see we're building a new gym. I hope it will be completed soon so we have more space downstairs to better help players recover. It has to be step by step—we can't just push players by telling them they must do this and that. The coaching staff and the club must also take action to create a better environment for them.

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