Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has expressed his admiration for one of Benfica’s attacking stars ahead of their Champions League clash on Tuesday night.

The Blaugrana, still reeling from a frustrating draw against Getafe in La Liga over the weekend, will aim to refocus their efforts in Europe as they face the Portuguese giants at The Estádio da Luz.

During his pre-match press conference, Flick was asked about Ángel Di María, the experienced winger who has been instrumental for Benfica this season. The Barcelona boss did not hold back in his praise for the former Real Madrid man:

“Di María is one of my favourite players. You see his career, how he has been in recent years, his technical ability… It’s great to watch him play. I’m a fan.”

With high stakes in Tuesday’s encounter, Flick’s comments underline the respect Barcelona holds for their opponents and the talent within their ranks, particularly that of the Argentine veteran.