The Barcelona coach said the squad had responded to the loss by reviewing the performance and identifying areas for improvement, rather than allowing the result to undermine preparations for the meeting with their domestic rivals.
“I have good feelings. The players have recovered. They’re ready for the match.”
Flick described the Clásico as football’s outstanding fixture, with an audience and significance that extend well beyond the league points at stake.
“It’s the best match this sport offers. Millions of people around the world are watching, from different cultures and generations. It’s three points, but it’s much more than that. It’s fantastic. My team knows how to play, we’re ready, and I have confidence in my team.”
The German expects Madrid to arrive with confidence, pointing to their quality across the pitch and the threat they pose in the attacking third.
“I expect a team with a lot of confidence. It’s a great club, with great players and a great coach. That’s how I see them. They have fantastic footballers, especially in the final third. We have to be ready.”
Flick also highlighted Madrid’s strength at set pieces, saying Barcelona had discussed the need to defend better after conceding against Paris Saint-Germain.
“We know Real Madrid’s strengths, and they’re one of the best teams at set pieces. They’re also physically strong. We have to defend better than we did in Paris. We’ve discussed that today.”
Despite the pressure surrounding the fixture, Flick refused to be drawn into a wider debate about the messages coming from Madrid, preferring to concentrate on his own preparations.
“I prefer to focus on preparing my team. These things don’t concern me. The headlines don’t concern me.”
Flick was equally respectful when asked about Mourinho, praising the Portuguese coach’s achievements and the reputation he has among players.
“I have the greatest respect for him. When you manage teams at this level and achieve that kind of success, you’re talking about quality. I visited him when I was with the national team, and all the players speak wonderfully about him. He’s a great colleague who has enjoyed success.”
Barcelona will be without Jules Koundé, with Flick unwilling to take a risk on the defender. Dani Olmo is also unavailable, a significant absence given the midfielder’s recent form.
“Jules won’t be there tomorrow. We don’t want to take a risk. It’s a situation we have to accept. Dani was also in great form and playing very well. He hasn’t been lucky, but we have to accept that, too. He’ll miss many matches. We have Fermín. Both players give us a lot of quality.”
Flick also praised the development of Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín, expressing satisfaction with their performances together in defence. He believes Barcelona must maintain their positioning and distances between players to limit Madrid’s attacking options, including the threat posed by Kylian Mbappé.
With both teams facing the Clásico after contrasting European results, Flick’s focus is on Barcelona’s own performance. He believes the players are ready, but knows they will need greater defensive discipline to contain a Madrid side he regards as one of the best in the world.