Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has vowed that his team will give their all to secure a victory in honor of club doctor Carles Minarro García, who passed away just before their La Liga match against Osasuna.
The tragic incident deeply affected the team. Just hours before the match, García collapsed at the team hotel, while the players had already arrived at the stadium. The game was postponed just 20 minutes before kickoff.
Despite this emotional setback, Barcelona must now shift their focus to their crucial Champions League clash against Benfica in the Round of 16 second leg on Tuesday. At Monday’s press conference, Flick led a minute of silence for García before speaking about how much he meant to the team.
“His loss is huge. He was a wonderful person and an excellent doctor. For the team and the club, he was truly exceptional. He was a core part of our squad. We will miss him, but that’s life. I believe he will be watching over us from above. We want to play for him, and winning for him in this situation is very important.”
Flick remains confident that his team is handling the situation well and is fully focused on the upcoming match.
“I think the team is coping well. We are taking this match very seriously. After the first leg in Lisbon, I said that was just the beginning.”
Barcelona secured a hard-fought 1-0 win in Portugal despite playing a significant portion of the match with 10 men. Flick is optimistic about their chances in the return leg.
“We are in great form. I hope we can continue this way. The team is very focused. No one is taking anything for granted, and that is the most important thing.”
Barcelona is currently enjoying a 16-match unbeaten streak across all competitions. They are leading La Liga, have reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals after a 2-2 draw against Atlético Madrid, and remain in contention for three major trophies.
