Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is confident that the team will return back to winning ways when they take on rivals Real Madrid in the El Clasico on Sunday at the Estadi Olimpic Stadium.
The Blaugrana suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final to end their treble dreams, and Flick has backed the players to put the defeat behind them.
He said: “We spoke about what they (the players) are thinking, what they are feeling, it’s important in a group that we speak about that,” Flick told a news conference Saturday.
“Everyone knows that in a Clasico you have to be on your highest level, that’s what we have to do.
“We want to be active, we want to see the team (play) with intensity on the pitch, dominant as normal, and we know it’s a really fantastic team from Real (against us).”
Barcelona have beaten Real Madrid three times this season including a 3-2 in the Copa del Rey final last month.
The Catalans won the first leg in the league at the Santiago Bernabeu 4-0 before another 5-2 win in the Spanish Super Cup final in January.
Flick has urged his players to go all out for victory against Real Madrid.
He said: “We always go into the match to win the match, doesn’t matter about the table,” he added.
“(We’ll) focus on this match, give everything to get three points…
“The Clasico is important for our fans, everyone, for Barca, for the players, for me, my coaching staff, it’s great to play against them and compete against them.”
Barcelona will welcome back the duo of Alejandro Balde and Marc Casado back in the encounter.
Flick’s men are four points clear of second-placed Real Madrid in the La Liga title race. A win will further boost their hopes of winning their second tile in three years.
