German coach Hans Flick, the manager of FC Barcelona, spoke at a press conference ahead of the match against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, addressing his feelings before the game, his tactical choices, the status of several players, and concluding his talk with the case of defender Ronald Araujo.

Regarding his feelings before the semi-final, Flick said: "This tournament is a little different from what we are used to in Germany, but I like it. There are four teams, and last season we had a very good tournament. Winning the Super Cup gave us great energy for the rest of the season, and this is what we want again this year."

On the chances of winning, he continued: "Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Athletic Bilbao also believe they can win. We are talking about only two matches against two very strong teams."

About facing Athletic Bilbao, he added: "We are playing against the best team in Spain. Athletic has many attacking solutions, and the match will not be easy. If we make mistakes like those in the derby, it will be difficult. We have to improve a lot defensively."

Regarding the speed of Athletic's players, he went on: "We already faced them in La Liga, and Iñaki Williams was not present then. They have fast players, but we know what we want to do, and we know our strengths and what we need to win."

On the choice of goalkeeper, he stated: "The starting goalkeeper will be Juan Garcia."

On competition within the team, he continued: "At a club like Barcelona, there are two high-level players in every position. Ferran has performed well and scored goals, as has Robert. The most important thing for me is their behavior in training and even when sitting on the bench. Everyone is required to give their best for the team."

Regarding the midfield, he said: "Eric has shown he can play in more than one position. De Jong performed well in the defensive midfield role, and Pedri was injured, so we had to adapt. The most important thing is who plays in the playmaker position, and with Ferran, it was very good. This is what we need in that position."

About Cancelo, he added: "In the past two years, we had to be smart with transfers. We cannot spend huge amounts of money. Our players are developing, our youth is growing, and we trust them. Now we have an opportunity to sign an experienced player, and I would be happy if it happens."

He continued: "I spoke with my technical staff, and when Ronald returns, we have good alternatives in central defense. João can play on both sides. The deal is not finalized yet, but it is a good option for these six months."

On whether any player has requested to leave, Flick confirmed: "No, no player has asked to leave."

He concluded his statements by talking about Araujo's situation, saying: "We will see Araujo's condition in training. I want to talk to him. We have not made a decision yet, and if he is ready, we might make a change. At the moment, this is not part of our plans."