Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick stated ahead of the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Benfica that his team wants to "play and win" for Carles Miñarro, the first-team doctor who unexpectedly passed away last Saturday.

The Locker Room Is Still Processing the Loss, but Flick Trusts the Team’s Mentality

Before the press conference began, a moment of silence was held in honor of Dr. Miñarro. In an unusual move, only Flick spoke to the media, as the locker room is still processing the difficult news, which the players received just before their match against Osasuna, which was ultimately postponed.

The coach explained that both he and club president Joan Laporta have spoken with the squad, which needs time to come to terms with what he called "a great loss."

"Carles was a great person, but also a great doctor. He was a key part of our success, and we will miss him dearly, but that’s life. I’m sure he will be supporting us from above," Flick said.

Flick Remains Cautious and Warns About Benfica’s Threat

Despite their 1-0 away win with a man down at the Estádio da Luz, Flick made it clear that neither he nor his players believe their ticket to the quarterfinals is secured.

"We talked about it this morning, reviewed everything we did well in the first leg, but also what we need to improve. We are not thinking about what happened in the first game. This is the second leg, and we want to win it," he stressed.

The coach emphasized that, despite having the advantage, Benfica is "a very strong team, especially in transitions," with "a very clear playing philosophy" and a solid track record as an away team in this Champions League campaign.

"They’ve won many away games in this Champions League playing really well," the German acknowledged.

Lewandowski, Szczęsny, and Raphinha Key for the Second Leg

Regarding individual players, Flick reassured that Robert Lewandowski is fully fit despite feeling discomfort during warm-ups before the postponed match against Osasuna.

"We checked him, and he’s fine, in great shape," the coach confirmed.

He also praised goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, who was the hero in Lisbon with eight crucial saves.

"He’s a very mature and experienced goalkeeper who gives us a lot of security. He’s doing a fantastic job," Flick emphasized.

Lastly, the coach highlighted the importance of Raphinha, who has already scored three goals against Benfica in their two meetings this season.

"He’s doing really well, his dynamism helps us a lot, and if you look at all the goals he’s scored and how he attacks, you can tell he’s a player with a lot of hunger," Flick concluded.