Barcelona youngster grateful to Flick for his trust – ‘Helped me a lot to get the best out of me’

Barcelona will be hoping to pick up their first win of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League when they host Swiss outfit Young Boys in Montjuic on Tuesday night.

The Blaugrana fell to a 2-1 defeat to AS Monaco in the first league game of the UCL earlier this month. They head into tomorrow’s match on the back of a 4-2 loss to CA Osasuna in La Liga and will be eager to produce a strong reaction.

On the eve of the match, young midfielder Marc Casado appeared in front of the media for the press conference along with manager Hansi Flick.

Kicking things off, the La Masia graduate stated that Barcelona were eager to play their first home match of the Champions League this season.

“Barça are eager to make their home debut in the Champions League and to excite the fans,” remarked the young midfielder.

Casado has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Hansi Flick’s appointment as manager as he has gone from playing in the Spanish third division with Barça Atletic to becoming a first-team regular.

Touching on the difference in levels between the RFEF Primera Division and the Champions League, the midfielder said:

“There is a notable difference, both physically and in terms of the quality of the opponents. The veterans help us a lot. Also with top world players like Pedri or Raphinha.”

As mentioned earlier, Barça go into tomorrow’s match on the back of a disappointing defeat to Osasuna. On being asked about the message from manager Flick after the loss, Casado replied:

“He’s very approachable, he transmits confidence, he’s got the squad on board. We all know what we have to do. In the Champions League, you have to give 100% to win.”

Regarding the team’s feelings after the loss on Saturday, he added: “There is a great desire to win in the Champions League. We don’t like the defeat at El Sadar, but we want to win again. Hopefully tomorrow.”

On how things have changed for him personally in the first-team setup, Casado remarked: “What I always say, the important thing is to work to the maximum. With this squad it’s much easier to play.”

Casado also expressed his gratitude to Flick for helping him successfully transition to the first team, saying:

“He has helped me a lot because he tells me very clearly what I have to do. I’m very grateful.”

“The manager and his staff help me a lot and for that I thank everyone,” he added.

Casado signed a new contract with Barcelona earlier this year before being promoted to the senior team and finds himself as a regular in the team now, with confidence soaring high.

“As I said before, Flick has helped me a lot to get the best out of me. I’m giving my 100%. This way things can go better,” the youngster said about his rise.

As has already been spoken about plenty this season, Barcelona have a very youthful squad with Flick integrating a number of youngsters from the youth and reserve team ranks.

“There is a very good squad, it is true that it is young but we all have the ambition to win games and titles. The Barça badge always deserves to go for the most number of titles,” said Casado about the young squad’s ambitions.

Discussing tomorrow’s opponents, Young Boys, the La Masia ace said: “They are a tough opponent, because there are no easy teams in this tournament. They are a compact block that can do damage on the counter-attack.”

Regarding the team’s tactical plans for tomorrow, he stated: “With the coach, we are very clear about everything. We also work on the opponent. The coach is clear about what he wants and we all understand that.”

Casado also welcomed the return of Frenkie de Jong after the midfielder spent more than five months out of action, stating that it would elevate the whole team.

“It benefits the whole team. It’s better against everyone,” he remarked.

Source: Mundo Deportivo