Barcelona’s 19-year-old defender expects an unforgiving opening spell when the Champions League takes the Spanish side to Galatasaray, where Victor Osimhen and one of Europe’s most intense home atmospheres will test Hansi Flick’s team.
The player, who previously met Osimhen on his senior debut, said Barcelona must be alert to the Nigerian striker’s movement and to Galatasaray’s threat in transition. He described Osimhen as among the world’s outstanding forwards and warned that concentration would be essential to stop him influencing the match.
“They know exactly how they want to play, they are at home and that matters,” he said. “We have to be ready for their attacks. Osimhen is one of the best strikers in the world, so we must not give him the chance to hurt us.”
A test of Barcelona’s momentum
Barcelona arrive in strong form and with growing confidence, although the defender rejected any suggestion that the team feels unbeatable. The message within the squad is to keep its momentum going rather than become distracted by the attention around its start to the campaign.
Flick’s instructions have focused on maintaining Barcelona’s own game while respecting the specific demands of the occasion. Galatasaray’s stadium, he said, creates pressure from the outset and the early minutes could be especially difficult.
“We know the qualities they have and the atmosphere in this ground,” he said. “We must play our football, but the small details will be important. It is a great team and it can cause us problems.”
One of those details is Barcelona’s defensive record in the competition. They have yet to keep a clean sheet in this Champions League campaign, something the defender sees as a major target, particularly away from home.
“A clean sheet is one of the most important things because it helps you win matches, especially in stadiums like this,” he said. “We need to improve in that area, but we will. This team has enormous room to develop.”
Managing a demanding season
After playing heavily at the World Cup, the defender said Flick has managed his workload carefully. He insisted that he looks after himself as thoroughly as possible, while acknowledging that the coach understands his desire to play every match.
The summer, he added, marked an important stage in his development. Although he has always had confidence in his ability, he believes that confidence has strengthened with experience. At the same time, he knows opposing forwards will continue to target him.
“I have grown a little,” he said. “I am still only 19 and I am experiencing many new things, but I do not use my age as an excuse. I have to work, be myself and compete like everyone else.”
He also backed Frenkie de Jong to make a major contribution once fully fit. De Jong has been unavailable because of physical issues, but the defender called him one of the finest players in the world in his position and stressed how important it is for Barcelona to have him healthy.
Ballon d’Or belief and focus on the tie
The defender gave emphatic support to Lamine Yamal’s Ballon d’Or ambitions, saying the Barcelona forward deserves the award and is already regarded as the best player in the world.
He added that his own World Cup and club season could also place him in the conversation, but suggested Yamal attracts greater attention. For now, however, individual recognition is secondary to handling Galatasaray and sustaining Barcelona’s European run.
Asked about Real Madrid’s complaints regarding refereeing, he declined to engage, saying Barcelona are concentrating on their own football rather than issues coming from outside the club.
