Hansi Flick insists Barcelona will fight to the end to win titles, although he is unhappy with their recent form after just one win in six LaLiga games.
After an excellent start to the season, winning 14 of their first 16 games in all competitions, Barcelona lost their way domestically with Sunday's 1-0 defeat to 15th-placed Leganes, a second home defeat in a row.
They remain top of the LaLiga table with 38 points, although Sunday's opponents, second-placed Atletico Madrid, are level on points and also have a game in hand.
To make matters worse for the Catalan side, Atletico were in great form ahead of the highly anticipated match at the Lluis Company Olympic Stadium, having won their last eleven matches in all competitions.
“What I feel in the city and the supporters know what the team is like. We have lost five important players. Dani Olmo and Pau Victor are the [new] signings. The team has improved and is focused,” Flick told reporters on Friday.
“We are not happy with the situation, but we are going to fight until the end of the season. We want to win titles, but we know it will not be easy. But we want to win, that is what we want to do tomorrow.”
Bon dia! #BarçaAleti pic.twitter.com/21gmZCWptT
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 20, 2024
Barcelona have won their last five meetings with Atletico in LaLiga and can equal the best run of consecutive wins over them in their history in the competition, achieved between September 2010 and May 2013.
They have also not conceded a single goal in their last four games against Diego Simeone's side, and Flick says there will be little room for error if they are to beat Atletico.
“It's the end of the year. It's a great match. It's one of the best rivals. But today is December 20 and we are first in LaLiga and second in the Champions League. We are not bad. We lost some points against Las Palmas [2-1 loss] and Leganes, we have to get them back,” Flick added.
“Tomorrow is another match. We have a young team and we have to fight and improve. We want to achieve great things. But we know it won't be easy. We have to start fighting tomorrow. We are playing against great teams.” “
Barcelona have suffered a blow as winger Lamine Yamal suffered an ankle injury during the defeat to Leganes. The 17-year-old Spain international is expected to be out for three to four weeks.
“We have to accept that he is injured and cannot play,” said Flick.
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