Flick praises Gonzalez ahead of huge Catalan derby
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is confident his side has enough quality to beat high-flying rival Espanyol in LaLiga's Catalan derby on Sunday (AEDT).
The Blaugrana lead the way in the Spanish top flight, sitting four points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, but Espanyol is also in a strong vein of form.
Manolo Gonzalez’s side has won each of its past five league matches, with that streak moving it up to fifth in the standings.
Barca, meanwhile, has won each of its past seven matches in all competitions since a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League in November.
Flick’s confidence was boosted as he confirmed that both Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo are fit for this derby, although the German coach praised his counterpart ahead of the fiery fixture.
“I’d like to congratulate Manolo,” Flick said. “He’s doing an incredible job.
“It’s a team that presses very well and makes excellent transitions. They’ve won five games in a row.
“We’ll have to play at our highest level, stay calm and play our best football. We have enough quality to take the win.
“We have to keep training with intensity, commitment and focus. We have a lot of potential, but also room to keep developing it.
"But if I had to ask for one new year wish, it would be to avoid injuries.”
