Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is optimistic that a successful run in the Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia this week will pave the way for additional trophies this season, building on the three titles he secured during his debut year.
Last January, Flick guided Barça to Supercopa triumph, which set the stage for the team’s subsequent victories in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey, while also earning a place in the Champions League semifinal for the first time since 2019.
Barça begins their title defense in Jeddah against Athletic Club on Wednesday, with the winners set to face either Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid in the final on Sunday.
“It’s an exciting tournament,” Flick stated at a news conference on Tuesday. “The Supercopa is a bit different from Germany’s format, featuring four teams, but I enjoy it.
“We had a fantastic start last season. Winning the Supercopa energized us for the remainder of the campaign, and we aim to replicate that success this time around.
“With just two matches, it’s a quick route to a trophy, and that’s a strong motivating factor. We did it last season, and we’re hoping to do the same this year.
“Winning titles is our goal at Barcelona. This is what the fans, the club, and the players aspire to achieve. We’re here to succeed.”
Barcelona has achieved eight consecutive wins across all competitions since their loss to Chelsea in November, although performances have at times not reflected the results.
Flick remarked after Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Espanyol that his team didn’t fully deserve the win, emphasizing the need for improvement to secure a 16th Supercopa title this week.
“Our objective is to win the trophy, but it won’t be easy against a strong Athletic team,” he stated. “They have quick players, but we have a clear plan on how we intend to play.
“We must enhance our performance compared to the last two matches; we understand our strengths and what is required to compete at this level, and everyone needs to contribute.
“If we repeat the mistakes from Saturday, it will be a challenge. We must solidify our defense and play cohesively as a team. We need to significantly improve.”
Lamine Yamal practiced alone on Tuesday, but club sources indicate he will be fit for the match against Athletic. Meanwhile, Ronald Araújo might also be available again after traveling with the squad to Jeddah following a mental health break.
As it stands, Andreas Christensen and Gavi are confirmed to be the only players unavailable for selection.
Flick also shared that the club is nearing a loan agreement for João Cancelo from Al Hilal, as previously reported by ESPN on Monday.
“If we bring in João, it could enhance our options at full-back,” Flick noted. “He has the ability to play on both flanks and possesses quality in the attacking phase. However, it’s not yet finalized.
“If everything aligns, I would be pleased. It would provide us with more options. We discussed adding a centre-back, but this move makes sense—it’s for six months and involves a high-quality player.”
Following Christensen’s partial ACL tear, Flick expressed a desire to recruit a central defender this January, but the complexities of the transfer window combined with the club’s financial constraints ultimately hindered that pursuit.
“In the last two years, we’ve had to exercise caution in our player acquisitions,” he explained. “It’s not like other clubs that can spend hundreds of millions on signings, but we are managing well.”