The head coach of the Czech club Slavia Prague, Jindrich Trpisovsky, confirmed his team's readiness to face Barcelona tomorrow, Wednesday, in the seventh and penultimate round of the Champions League group stage. The match carries clear contrasts between the two teams, as Barcelona seeks to secure direct qualification to the round of 16, while Slavia Prague aims to achieve their first victory in the tournament.

At the press conference, the Slavia Prague coach said: "I don't know if Barcelona's position in the standings will work to our advantage. It is said that big teams do not lose two consecutive matches, and I believe this will give them extra motivation. Playing against Barcelona is a football festival."

He explained: "It is unfortunate that Yamal will not be present. I am sad because some of our players will not have the chance to face a player like him."

He also praised several Barcelona players participating in the match: "Pedri has great quality, which is why he plays for Barcelona. Fermin and Olmo are also wonderful. Pedri is fully integrated, a modern and technical player whose style I like."

He added: "These players have solutions for everything. Pedri and Fermin complement each other, and their coach is also a football phenomenon. It is a giant team. I adore Rafinha and Lamina."

The coach pointed out the unusual circumstances for his team: "Slavia Prague has not played any official match for a month and a half due to the winter break in the Czech league to avoid harsh weather. This is our first match in 2026 and will be an important test. When you stay away from matches for a long time, some doubts arise about the team's readiness."

Regarding facing Barcelona in very cold conditions, he said: "Barcelona is used to changing environments. We went to play in Spain where the difference was 27 degrees. Felix is German and knows well what he might face in terms of weather."

About the plan to face the Catalan team, he added: "We know they play a defensive system that sometimes depends on very small details."

On his confidence in his team, he said: "We are strong in terms of intensity and pace, and this is what we will show. I hope we succeed in good pressing because if you make a mistake against such an opponent, you will be punished immediately."