LAS PALMAS, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 22: Hansi Flick, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, looks on during the LaLiga match between UD Las Palmas and FC Barcelona at Estadio Gran Canaria on February 22, 2025 in Las Palmas, Spain. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick was full of praise for his upcoming Champions League opponents Inter, whom he labelled ‘fantastic’ and ‘tactically intelligent’ after the 4-3 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich.
Inter and Barcelona will meet each other over two legs of this season’s Champions League at the end of April and beginning of May.
The Nerazzurri qualified after a 4-3 aggregate victory over Bayern, sealed with a 2-2 draw in San Siro on Wednesday night, while Barcelona survived a scare to qualify with a 5-3 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund, despite a 3-1 loss in the second leg.
Flick gives assessment of Inter ahead of Barcelona Champions League semi-final
Before facing Inter, Barcelona will be in LaLiga action against Celta Vigo, then against Mallorca and then Real Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the Celta Vigo match, Flick was asked a series of questions about his next Champions League opponents.
“I really appreciate Inter, both for how they played and for what they are doing,” Flick said, reported via Calciomercato.com.
“They’re an experienced team, they defend exceptionally well. They’re well organised, not just defensively, but also when they have possession of the ball. They are really tactically intelligent. Overall, Inter are a fantastic team.”
Flick was also asked if there are any individual players from the Nerazzurri camp that he admires, to which he replied: “They have extraordinary strikers. Their defence is also of the highest level.”
On Simone Inzaghi, he added: “Inter are led by a great coach. What Inzaghi has done in recent years is truly incredible. And they’re continuing to do well, which is not easy at all.”
Flick singled out one individual Inter player, Benjamin Pavard, whom he coached during his time at Bayern Munich: “I’ve always had a particular affection for Benji Pavard, he was one of my players and I consider him a model professional.
“You always know what to expect from him. I’d really like to see him again in these two games.”
