Hansi Flick, the coach for Barcelona, said that keeping the Spanish Super Cup this week would help his team’s other goals this year.
In a semifinal match at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Sports City stadium on Wednesday, the record 15-time champions take on Athletic Bilbao.
The first victory of Flick’s reign, followed by victories in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, came last year when Barca won the competition as the first leg of a domestic treble.
Former Bayern Munich coach Flick praised the tournament as being “a little bit different” from the equivalent competition in Germany.
“We had a lot of energy for the rest of the season thanks to winning the Super Cup last year,” said one participant.
Barcelona are favorites to win the Super Cup and lead La Liga after nine straight victories in the top flight, despite significant questions still lingering about their defense.
Late goals and a sensational performance from stopper Joan Garcia earned the Catalans a 2-0 victory in a tense derby on Saturday despite being outplayed by neighboring Espanyol.
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Flick urged his team to perform better at the back if they wanted to win the sixth tournament held in Saudi Arabia.
“We have to work on our things because it won’t be an easy match (if) we make the same mistakes as on Saturday,” Flick said.
We must play much better in the defense, stay connected as a unit, and do the same for the defense, as I did on Saturday.
Cancelo incoming,  
After a protracted mental health break, central defender Ronald Araujo may return to action this week.
Following a red card in Barcelona’s 3-0 Champions League defeat by Chelsea in November, the Uruguayan was given a month’s worth of leave.
We haven’t decided how to proceed with this training (session), so we will see it today and I will want to speak with him.
“It takes time, so I’m thinking we might change something if he feels ready for tomorrow,” he said. “Also, it’s not our plan at this time.
Flick confirmed that Barcelona are close to signing Joao Cancelo from Al-Hilal until the end of the season, but the deal is still pending.
“With Joao, maybe he can give us more options as full-back, both sides in the offence, good quality, but (as far as I know, it’s not done,” Flick said.
Cancelo signed for Barcelona from Manchester City on loan during the 2023-2024 season.
Athletic, who is eighth in La Liga, won the Super Cup three times before losing to Barcelona in the final in 2021.
Better records are only Barcelona and Real Madrid, who have won 13 games. Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso will face Atletico Madrid in the other Super Cup semi-final on Thursday.
Source: Channels TV
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