PA Media/DPA
London
Coach Hansi Flick says Barcelona must be ready to face one of the best teams in Europe in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan on Wednesday.
Barca’s impressive season went to new heights at the weekend as they earned a 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey.
Now, Barcelona switch their attention to Europe where they hope to go one step further in winning their first Champions League trophy since 2015.
In their way stand the 2023-24 Serie A winners, who made the final of this competition in 2023 where they were beaten by Manchester City.
Flick, who won the treble in 2020 in charge of Bayern Munich, highlighted the dangers of their Italian opponents.
He said: “Inter are one of the best teams in Europe, a difficult opponent. They don’t just defend well but also counter dangerously. We have to be ready.
“Before training we spoke about what we have to change to face Inter. We have to protect the midfield and still make it important to have the ball, defend well and commit few errors. We will have to cover all the space.”
Barcelona were forced into extra time in their Copa del Rey win before defender Jules Kounde snatched the winner in the 116th minute, but Flick admits his team cannot use tiredness as an excuse.
He added: “It’s the semi-finals of the Champions League and both teams want to get through. We are two games away from the final and we can’t be tired.
“Everyone is focused and knows how important this semi-final is.”
Inter beat Bayern to earn their place in the last four of the competition and will want to go one step further than they did in 2023.
However, Simone Inzaghi’s side have stumbled in recent weeks in the league, losing to both Roma and Bologna.
Inzaghi said: “We’re coming off a very negative week, while Barcelona is coming off a victory in the Copa del Rey.
“The boys have been extraordinary so far, the last week does not wipe out the work we’ve done for four years.”
“We have the utmost respect, but no fear. (Lamine) Yamal is a unique talent in the world. He has everything it takes to play well.
“However, we are among the best four teams in Europe. We will have to give everything we did against Bayern again, with a lot of fluidity.”
