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Flick targets third LaLiga title and Champions League glory as Barcelona season ends

·By Paul Lindisfarne
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Flick targets third LaLiga title and Champions League glory as Barcelona season ends

Barcelona/X.com

Hansi Flick used his final press conference of the season to set out his ambitions for next year, declaring himself fully committed to winning a third consecutive LaLiga title and delivering Champions League success for Barcelona.

The German coach was speaking ahead of Saturday's season finale at Mestalla against Valencia, a match with nothing at stake for the LaLiga champions but everything to prove in terms of tone.

Flick opened by reflecting on the campaign as a whole.

"This season has gone by so fast. It hasn't been easy — tougher than last season — and a lot has happened, things that didn't go the way we wanted. But I really appreciate what the team has done."

He was asked directly about his bid to match Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola as the only Barcelona managers to win three consecutive league titles.

"I am 100 per cent motivated and ready for this. It's a big goal and we're going for it. Other clubs will also want to win LaLiga, but it is our objective and we will give everything to achieve it."

On the Champions League, Flick was equally direct: "I am 100 per cent committed to winning titles. We will work hard for the Champions League. That is our objective."

When asked about comparisons with Guardiola's decade at Manchester City, he laughed: "Ten years here? I don't think so. At 70 years old, it would not be good for me to still be here. Pep is incredible — ten years at that level. He is the best manager in the world and he has proven it year after year. I hope he rests, but I also hope he comes back, because he is young."

On the squad, Flick confirmed that Lewandowski remains the only player to have told him he is leaving.

"Nobody else has said they are going," he said. The future of forward Ferran Torres remains unresolved, though Flick was measured: "He has one year left on his contract. There will be a time to speak about it. What I see is that he has worked well in recent weeks and his attitude has been positive."

Defender Jules Koundé is carrying a minor problem ahead of the World Cup and will be managed carefully. Midfielder Fermín López, who suffered a serious injury that will cost him the tournament with Spain, drew an emotional response: "It is very hard. He has played an outstanding season. He and we feel the pain. He must keep working. We support him and I am certain he will come back stronger."

Flick's defining moment of the season was not a trophy but a realisation.

"When we scored the second goal against Real Madrid in El Clásico, I was convinced we had won LaLiga. But the match at Getafe, away from home — the mentality the team showed there impressed me most. That is where I knew we were going to win the title."

Barcelona have won five trophies under Flick in two seasons.