Flick to maintain Champions League favourites Barcelona grounded

Hansi Flick is decided to maintain his Barcelona group grounded as they method their Champions League quarter-final tie with Borussia Dortmund as heavy favourites.

Barca haven’t misplaced a sport because the flip of the yr and are nonetheless within the hunt for a attainable quadruple this season.

The Blaugrana high LaLiga forward of Actual Madrid with eight matches left and can play their arch-rivals on this month’s Copa del Rey last, having already crushed them to win the Supercopa de Espana in January.

They’re additionally thought-about the Opta supercomputer’s favourites to win the Champions League with a 23.1% likelihood, whereas they’re given 78.2% likelihood of eliminating Dortmund forward of Wednesday’s first leg at house.

“We are able to dream, however gamers and coaches should preserve our ft on the bottom,” Flick advised reporters on Tuesday.

“We have now to have a look at what now we have achieved, primarily based on laborious work, and it should not be the tip. We have now to tug out all of the stops to maintain going.

“We need to proceed with out dropping this yr, however now we have to carry out at our greatest in opposition to a really sturdy rival.”

Dortmund completed runners-up to document 15-time European champions Madrid within the Champions League final season, however they’ve struggled domestically this marketing campaign and are solely eighth within the Bundesliga.

They suffered one other blow this week when Germany centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck was dominated out for the remainder of the season as a consequence of a critical knee damage.

“I want to play in opposition to the higher group. I’m sorry about Nico’s loss and I want him effectively,” Flick stated.

“Dortmund have loads of stylish gamers and they’re within the quarters for a cause. The absentees can have little affect on them.”

The previous Bayern Munich coach was requested about Brazil ahead Raphinha, who was solely a substitute in Barca’s 1-1 LaLiga house draw with Actual Betis on Saturday.

Raphinha, 28, has 27 objectives and 20 assists in 44 appearances in all competitions this season, however he has struggled with fatigue because the latest worldwide break.

“We have now tried, after the worldwide break, to get him again on his ft,” Flick stated.

“What I noticed within the session is similar as I noticed earlier than: he’s very lively, awake, dynamic… it exhibits that he’s prepared for tomorrow’s sport.”