Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has refused to disclose details of his private conversations with former manager Xavi Hernández, insisting that such discussions remain confidential despite growing speculation about the club’s future direction.
Speaking ahead of Barcelona’s crucial Champions League clash against Newcastle United, Flick addressed questions about his relationship with sporting director Deco and Bojan Krkić, emphasizing the strong working dynamic he has built with both since arriving at the club.
“I have a good relationship with Xavi, but I do not want to comment on our conversations because they are private. I know what is going on, but it remains private,” Flick said.
“We must wait for the elections, but what I can say is that since my arrival, I have had a good relationship with Deco and Bojan. We work very well together. We do not only analyze the players of the first team, but also those from La Masia.”
Flick highlighted the alignment in vision between himself, Deco, and Bojan when it comes to player evaluation and development.
“When we talk about players, we have the same idea and we believe in them. We give our best for this club and we give everything,” he added. “I do not know why these questions are being asked today. This is one of the most important weeks of our season because we want to qualify for the next round and we have to focus on the match.”
The German coach described Barcelona as “a wonderful place” where he enjoys working every day with top talents and receives strong support from the club’s structure.
“Barça is a wonderful place. I am here and I enjoy every day. Working with these great players and with the team is fantastic, and Alejandro (Echevarría) takes care of us. If we need anything, he is there,” Flick noted.
He stressed the importance of building a long-term project at the club.
“What we have to do now is build this project for the future. That is what we are doing. What the coach wants is for everything to work properly, and we all give 100 percent of our effort. That is all I want.”
Turning his attention to Tuesday’s match against Newcastle, Flick warned of the English side’s strengths while expressing confidence in Barcelona’s ability to compete.
“Tomorrow we will face a fantastic atmosphere and a team that plays well and with an excellent mentality. We must correct the aspects that cost us in the first leg against Atlético Madrid,” he said.
“Newcastle play well and they will press man to man, and they are quick in attack. We must defend very well, with pride and courage. Both matches are important, and we already saw that against Atlético in the cup. We must be careful, and we will be.”
Flick also praised the Premier League’s quality and financial power but insisted Barcelona can match any opponent by sticking to their philosophy.
“The Premier League is the best league in the world, it is incredible. They have a lot of money and they can make decisions. We are as strong as them, and we have to play with our philosophy and show it to the world.”
On the squad front, Flick confirmed Marcus Rashford has returned in good form after a brief absence and remains an option for selection, though no final decision has been made.
He reserved special praise for Barcelona’s young talents, particularly 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí, whose defensive maturity he compared to Lamine Yamal’s attacking brilliance.
“Cuba, Lamine, Fermín, Bernal… Their quality is incredible, their match in Bilbao was amazing. Watching Cubarsí defend… He took a throw-in like a corner. He’s at the same level as Lamine, but in defense. He’s 19 years old and can play at the highest level imaginable.”
With a pivotal week ahead in both domestic and European competitions, Flick urged focus on the upcoming fixture rather than off-field speculation, signaling his determination to keep the team grounded and united.
