Bayern coach Hansi Flick reeled off a list of Barcelona threats, determined to look beyond simply Lionel Messi for Bayern Munich's quarter-final.
Bayern Munich are making plans for Lionel Messi, but coach Hansi Flick is well aware of the threat of the rest of the Barcelona team in their Champions League quarter-final. Bayern face Barça in Lisbon on Friday in a match the Bundesliga champions are expected to win, having been in dominant form in recent months.
But the Blaugrana have Messi in their ranks, the six-time Ballon d'Or winner seemingly determined to get his hands on a fifth European crown, the most recent of those coming in 2015.
Questions at Flick's pre-match news conference focused on the threat of Barca's number 10, yet the head coach was keen to remind reporters there will be more to the match than Messi.
Full match preview: Barcelona vs Bayern Munich
Barcelona are more than Messi
"It's not Bayern Munich against Messi, but against Barcelona," he said. "Of course we have thought about how we will play against him.
"It is possible that we will play together to counter him as a team. We have to recognise the spaces, put him under pressure and try to win the one-on-one duels."
Flick added: "We have the necessary respect for Barcelona because they have been the dominant team in recent years. Many coaches and clubs have been inspired by Barça.
"They're nice to watch, the way they play, the way they train, their enthusiasm.
"Messi is not the only player who stands out. [Gerard] Pique, [Antoine] Griezmann, [Ivan] Rakitic and [Luis] Suarez are top players. [Marc-Andre] ter Stegen is a world-class goalkeeper.
"They have enormous quality and experience and we have to go against that as a team and bring our quality. We have a plan and hope that it works."
Messi > Lewandowski?
While opposite number Quique Setién suggested Robert Lewandowski was not in the same class as Messi, Flick refused to be drawn into a comparison between his talisman and Barca's.
"You can't compare the two players," he said. "Lewandowski is a world-class striker and has tremendous quality. For us, he is someone who guarantees goals but also creates goals.
"Messi has been by far the best footballer over the past few years. He's an exceptional player and I don't know if someone like that will come around again."
Teenage left-back Alphonso Davies has been one of the stars of the Champions League campaign so far but may now be the man tasked with marking Messi.
Team-mate Thomas Muller is determined not to leave the Canadian to face his mammoth task alone, though.
"Messi is in good shape, but you never defend him alone," Muller said. "My experience from the games in which I faced him was that it worked when the whole team was there.
"We have to act together against this individual quality. Alphonso Davies is also key here, but he is not alone."
TijanMilla
725
Messi or not,Bayern are still favourites to win the match. But it would only take a bit of Magic from the Maestro himself to turn things around
hiyacenoru
558
no flick is wrong its bayern Munich against messi just like last year against liverpool and year before against roma messi doesnt get help
MJOLIXV
529
Bayern must not forget that Messi is Messi, he's the one who decide it's a pity because they're training with the eye witness Boateng
Rasheedmech
441
firstly I'm not a Barca hater, I'm just being realistic. I don't think Barca can even score a goal. Barca's midfield is almost dead ,they need to bring in la masia players. look at de Jong apart from passing he doesn't create enough to be at level as iniesta or xavi. Riqui puig is gem of a talent. If Barca were to have any chances against Bayern then they need to defend well for 60-70 minutes.
harieshjr
371
Barcelona can win Bayern If Messi fit 100%
ayushman seth
367
For this man I have still believe that Barca will win
itx_chi
284
if messi catches u in a 1 on 1 it's over ima die hard cr7 fan but u can't deny messi's brilliance when it comes to dribbling and finding a way through tight spots muller is right the only way to go is defend him as a team force someone else to step up for them but it's almost impossible to keep messi quiet for 90 minutes he's so intelligent when it comes to floating in behind the midfield and just in front of the back line if u limit the overlaps from the fullbacks u can limit the amount of space that messi has to run into somewhat force barca to beat u and not just messi
TapanAjmera
9
Messi or not,Bayern are still favourites to win the match. But it would only take a bit of Magic from the Maestro himself to turn things around
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i think barca can win this ucl because barca is perform well in 1st leg but not in 2nd so if there is only one match barca chance is very high mark my word today barca win..