“We haven’t qualified yet,” insisted Hansi Flick after his Barcelona side ran rampant against Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash.
The Blaugrana claimed a 4-0 win at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, with goals from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal either side of a Robert Lewandowsku brace.
Flick was keen to pile on the praise for the trio, who have been “really important” to the club’s successes this season – but the German also thanked each and every one of his players, who “all played a great game”.
“I really appreciate the strengths of my players, and they always want more. It’s fantastic,” the 60-year-old explained in his press conference, adding that “enjoying the game is part of it all”.
“My players enjoy playing football, training and being together and that’s the key to playing games like we did today.”
But despite taking a four-goal lead to Dortmund next Tuesday, Flick is aware that anything can happen at the Westfalenstadion and insisted that Barça must not get complacent.
“You never know what could happen. Football is a crazy sport. In Dortmund, we have to play like we did today. 4-0 is a great result but we have to go to one of the most beautiful stadiums I know. They’re a really good team but we’ve got to have the confidence to do what we know to do.”
Borussia Dortmund will host Barcelona next Tuesday, with kickoff at 20:00 BST [21:00 CEST].
