Flick urges focus as Barca look to finish job against Dortmund

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick says belief, pride and focus will drive his side in Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg at Borussia Dortmund, insisting their long unbeaten run means nothing unless they continue to give their best. Flick’s side, undefeated in 24 games across all competitions, are not taking Dortmund for granted despite carrying a 4-0 advantage into the return at Signal Iduna Park.

“I have a lot of faith in this team. We have gone through a lot of games without losing and we should be proud of that. I can’t complain about a single one of my players. This team is incredible,” Flick told reporters on Monday. “The team should enjoy what they’re doing, and we are ready to do it. We want to play well for ourselves and also for the travelling fans who always support us. We won’t let our concentration drop.”

While still chasing a treble as La Liga leaders and Copa del Rey finalists, where they play Real Madrid on April 26, Flick insists their sole focus is on the Dortmund match.

“We are only thinking about our game with Dortmund. The rest is for the future. We aren’t looking any further. Our idea of football is about always doing our very best,” he said. “There is a lot of quality in our team and we always take things a game at a time. Playing Dortmund in the Champions League quarterfinals at their stadium is always going to be difficult.”

Villa banking on home advantage against PSG

Aston Villa must make home advantage count and draw energy from their supporters in the return leg of their quarterfinal against Paris St Germain at Villa Park on Tuesday, manager Unai Emery said.

Villa took the lead in the first leg through Morgan Rogers but PSG hit back through Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes on Wednesday to win 3-1.

“PSG have a lot of experience playing in away matches. They are playing in France and Europe and we have experience as well,” Emery told reporters on Monday. “But we will be connecting with our supporters and transmitting the energy… if we do, tactically and individually, good things on the field, the supporters are going to up our energy and help us a lot. They are going to transmit that energy always for our players.”

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