Barcelona require leaders on the pitch if they are to achieve their coach Hansi Flick's dream of winning the Champions League, the German said yesterday. The 61-year-old was speaking a week after his Champions League dream was dash
AFP | Barcelona
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Barcelona require leaders on the pitch if they are to achieve their coach Hansi Flick’s dream of winning the Champions League, the German said yesterday.
The 61-year-old was speaking a week after his Champions League dream was dashed for a second successive season -- this time ousted in the quarter-finals by La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid.
Flick -- whose side went out in the semi-finals last season to Inter Milan -- guided Barcelona to the domestic double last term and his charges are on course for retaining their league title, they are nine points clear of Real Madrid with seven games to play. “It is not an excuse but in the business end of the campaign in March and April, it is very important to have all the players available,” he said at his press conference on the eve of their league match with Celta Vigo.
“Against Atletico we were missing Frenkie (de Jong) and Raphinha.
“Last year we had Inigo (Martinez), who was a great leader. “We need these type of players, capable of providing leadership on the pitch, to speak up during matches, in the quarter-finals or semi-finals of the Champions League, and to show the way.”
Flick added the team, largely made up of players who came through the club’s youth system, were “young” and must “learn” from each defeat in order to progress.
