Barcelona manager, Hansi Flick, has praised Liverpool in a glowing assessment of Arne Slot's side, acknowledging them as the strongest contenders to Barcelona in the Champions League. Liverpool currently lead the group stage, sitting three points ahead of Barcelona.
Liverpool are looking to solidify their position as one of the top two teams in the competition when they host Lille tonight at Anfield. Meanwhile, Barcelona will travel to Benfica to continue chasing the Premier League leaders.
Flick's Strong Liverpool Opinion Sparks Potential Conflict with Arne Slot
Speaking about Liverpool, Flick said, "The future will decide whether we are among the favorites to win the seventh title. The Champions League is one of the toughest competitions to win, but we have to try."
Flick added, "When I look at Liverpool, I see a very powerful team. They are currently one of the best teams in the world. We are doing well too, but there are other great teams also competing on three fronts (Champions League, La Liga, and Copa del Rey)."
He continued, "Benfica is a very strong team. It's a pleasure to watch how they play and build their attacks. Ángel Di María is one of my favorite players, and we’ll see how things go tomorrow."
Though Flick’s remarks could be seen as part of a psychological game or genuine praise, they haven’t affected Arne Slot much. Slot downplayed the praise from Brentford’s Thomas Frank after their 2-0 win on Saturday, saying, "Frank's opinion means a lot to me because he has done well at Brentford without spending much money, but I think it's too early to say such things."
Slot further added, "This season's Champions League format is difficult to evaluate because teams face different opponents. It's always nice to receive compliments."
