Flick calls for Barca fight against in-form Atleti
Hansi Flick insists Barcelona will battle until the end to win titles, but admitted he is unhappy with his side's recent form after just one win in six LaLiga games.
After a superb start to the season which saw it win 14 of its first 16 matches across all competitions, Barcelona lost its way domestically with a 1-0 loss to 15th-placed Leganes last weekend, a second straight home defeat.
It remains top of the LaLiga table with 38 points, but Sunday's (AEDT) opponent, second-placed Atletico Madrid, is level on points with a game in hand.
To make matters worse for the Catalan side, Atletico has been in terrific form ahead of the highly-anticipated clash at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, having won its past 11 matches in all competitions.
"What I can feel in the city and the supporters know what the team is like. We lost five important players. Dani Olmo and Pau Victor are the [new] signings. The team has improved and is focused," Barca coach Flick said ahea of the match.
"We are not happy with the situation, but we are going to fight until the end of the season. We want to win titles, but we know it won't be easy. But we want to win, that's what we want to do tomorrow."
Barcelona has won its past five meetings with Atletico in LaLiga and can equal the best run of consecutive wins over Atleti in its history in the competition, achieved between September 2010 and May 2013.
It has also not conceded a single goal in its past four matches against Diego Simeone's side, and Flick says there will be little room for error if it is to win against Atletico.
"It's the end of the year. It's a great game. It's one of the best rivals. But today is 20 December and we're first in LaLiga and second in the [UEFA] Champions League. We are not bad," Flick said.
"We lost some points against Las Palmas [2-1 loss] and Leganes, we have to recover them.
"Tomorrow is another game. We have a young team and we have to fight and improve. We want to achieve great things. But we know it won't be easy. We have to start fighting tomorrow. We are playing against great teams."
Barcelona has suffered a blow with winger Lamine Yamal sustaining an ankle injury during its loss against Leganes.
The 17-year-old Spain international is expected to be out for three to four weeks, and was instrumental in Barca's strong start to the season.
"We have to accept that he is injured and won't be able to play," Flick said.
