Flick: Barcelona ought to show they can handle 'best league in the world'

Barcelona have been tasked by Hansi Flick to show they can deal with the spending power of "the best league in the world" when they face Newcastle United on Tuesday. 

The LaLiga leaders make the trip to St. James' for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, with this the second meeting between the two sides in Europe this season. 

Marcus Rashford was on target twice in a 2-1 win over Eddie Howe's side as Barcelona made a winning start to their league phase campaign, where they ended up finishing fifth. 

Barcelona have faced English opposition 33 times in the knockout stages of the Champions League, winning 10 of their last 12 matches since 2014, with the Magpies standing between them and a place in the last eight of UEFA's flagship competition. 

Newcastle are, however, one of six Premier League sides to make it to the last 16, with Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal also progressing. 

And while Flick acknowledged the threat Newcastle possess, he was confident that Barcelona, who last lifted the trophy in 2015, have the quality to more than compete. 

"The Premier League is a great league – for me, it's the best league in the world and they have strong teams," Flick told reporters. 

"Of course, they have also a lot of money to make the right decisions hopefully, but they have done it because they are… how many, six teams now in the next round?

"For me, okay, we are strong, we have huge quality also, not only Newcastle or Manchester City or Arsenal or Tottenham or like the others.

"We have to continue our way, our style, how we want to play. This is our philosophy.

"We want to play like Barca in the Champions League because our supporters are proud of us and the way we play football, so this is what we want to show also tomorrow."

Newcastle are on their longest ever unbeaten run in the Champions League (five games – W3 D2), but they have struggled for consistency in the Premier League in 2025-26. 

Howe's men are 12th in the top flight and nine points adrift of the top four, though Flick was aware that they have largely saved their best for the European games. 

"The Champions League is different. Everyone who plays now at this stage wants to show their best," Flick added.

"They are a team which on transition, they have very fast players and very good players, outstanding players, and we have to handle that and manage it."

Flick's comments came amid a row between club president Joan Laporta and Flick's predecessor Xavi and against the backdrop of next week's presidential election. 

The German was, however, focusing solely on his team's upcoming clash with Newcastle, which is their sixth meeting in the Champions League. 

"It's one of the most important weeks in the season now because we want to go to the next round. We have a game here, and we have to focus on the game," Flick said. 

"What I can say is everything here in Barcelona is great. I'm here one-and-a-half years, and I'm enjoying every single day working with this fantastic team, with these fantastic players, with this staff around.

"Now we are building this club also for the future. This is what we want to do. When I have gone, maybe the next coach can say, 'Okay, Hansi did a fantastic job, I have good infrastructure'. This is what we are doing now.

“Everyone gives everything for this club. This is what I want to say nothing else."