Arizona Tribune - Flick wants Barca title party repeat 'every year'

The German coach led the Catalan giants to a domestic treble in his first year at the club, beating Espanyol on Thursday to add La Liga to Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup triumphs.

An estimated 670,000 fans hit the streets to celebrate as the team cruised towards the city's Arc de Triomf monument on an open-top bus on Friday, revelling in the club's 28th Spanish title.

"When you see in the faces of the people, the passion for this club, for this amazing club and how they celebrate this, it's really good to see," Flick told a news conference Saturday.

"Of course, (if) we have this every year it's not bad -- so we go for this, we work hard on this in the next years.

"It's not easy but when we work hard, we stay focussed, maybe we can do it next year -- and it's unbelievable how many people are on the street."

Flick has a contract until 2026, but will extend his deal in the coming days according to Barca vice-president Rafa Yuste.

Barcelona face Villarreal on Sunday in La Liga and Flick said that while he would rotate, players who had been out partying on Friday night may still be selected.

"We have to make some changes but we won't (decide) until tomorrow... I think yesterday evening they went out to have a little bit of a party.

"I always say 'Who can party, also can work', they can play, so for me it's not an excuse."

Villarreal are still looking to seal Champions League qualification next season, but Flick wants his team to stay unbeaten in the top flight in 2025.

"We want to celebrate with our fans in the stadium and we want to end this season (feeling like) champions," added Flick.

"There are two matches to go and of course, we didn't lose any matches in La Liga this year, 2025, and it should be so until the end -- this is our goal."

Sunday's match may also be Barcelona's last game at their temporary Olympic stadium home, with Camp Nou set to reopen next season, albeit without a date set.

"I have had a great experience with the stadium this season in Montjuic, and I am also looking forward to playing in this new fantastic stadium," said Flick.

"When we start next season, hopefully it helps a lot... (if) we've finished all this and what we need to go back, we will see."

M.King--AT