Tomorrow night at Montjuïc, Barcelona will host Inter in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals. This is an opportunity for Barcelona to secure a good result against the crisis-hit Italian team and pave the way to the final in Munich.

Barcelona arrives at this match with boosted morale after winning the Copa del Rey. Hans-Dieter Flick answered questions at the pre-match press conference.

What is the key to success in this stage? “We must be very focused. This will be a difficult match, and we must be prepared for it.”

How do you manage the pressure before the match? “Mentally and physically, the team is in good condition. The victory against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final was very special and emotional. Now we are focused on Inter. Our goal is to reach the Champions League final, which is a dream for any team. Training has gone well, and all players are focused. We have talked about the opponent and what we need to do. We must perform better than we did against Real Madrid. We want to show our best version.”

Will there be changes in the starting lineup for the semi-final? “The starting lineup? We’ll see tomorrow. We won’t talk about it today. We have one more day. Tomorrow we will check how the players have recovered. Inter played on Sunday and had less time to rest than us, but I’m sure both teams will give their maximum. We have players on the bench who are ready for the semi-finals. Everything is fine.”

What is your message for this match? Do you put aside excitement? “What I can say is that everyone is focused and knows what to do. The victory against Real Madrid was very important for the team’s morale and can take us to higher levels. It will act like an indescribable morale bomb. This win is the key to success, an extra motivation. We can reach the final. For some players, this may be the last chance to reach the final. The opponent will also give 100%.”

Who will be the goalkeeper? “Ter Stegen will play in the Champions League. This is clear. Maybe we’ll make changes in La Liga, we’ll see later. But in the Champions League, he plays, yes.”

What do you focus on when selecting the starting lineup? “Of course, I think about tactics. We trained today. We have less time and must focus on the players’ fitness. It’s important that they continue to play, but tactics are also important. Today, after two days of recovery, we worked on tactics. It was a good day to focus on tactical issues.”

Is Ferran Torres an option to play? “Ferran is always an option. On Saturday we made a different decision, but he performed well. He is always in the right position and ready to play with full energy. He is at a very good level.”

Jules Koundé’s role at Barcelona: “Jules is very professional. For me, it’s not just his scoring that matters, but also his defensive work. In recent matches, he managed to stop Bellingham. Even in the goal-scoring scene against Real, he really surprised me. I saw him reach the ball and be there at the right moment. This excited me very much. Jules is at a very high level.”

Your future: “I think I will still be in charge of the team next year, yes. My contract is until the end of next season. I am very happy to be here and coaching Barcelona. I love this team. Now is not the time to talk about this. Our focus is on our goal, which is more important than my situation at the club. We are not thinking about what will happen in the future.”

How does Inter tactically limit you? “We have talked about the necessary changes. Their midfield has five players, and we must cover the spaces. We have trained on what we need to do. Keeping possession and reducing mistakes are very important. We must focus on defense and cover the spaces well. This is crucial.”

How do Inter’s last three defeats affect your preparation? “This is different. The Champions League is a big opportunity for Inter. It’s completely different from other matches. From now on, every team will give 100%, and previous results don’t matter.”

Inter’s situation: “I don’t think about this. It’s not my job. My focus is on Barcelona. As I said, it’s important that we are 100% ready. Our mindset is victory. We must play at our best level.”