Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has laid bare his tactical thoughts ahead of a titanic UEFA Champions League semi-final clash with Inter Milan. As excitement builds for the first leg, Flick took time to share insights from a recent team meeting that focused on Inter’s compact and disciplined style.

“Today we met and talked about what we have to change,” the German tactician explained, signalling that key tactical adjustments are in the pipeline as Barça prepare for a stern test in Milan.

The Nerazzurri are expected to line up in their familiar 3-5-2 system, with five players flooding the midfield — a setup that Flick is acutely aware of.

“In midfield, they will have five players and we will have to protect the spaces,” he noted. This observation highlights one of Inter’s biggest strengths: crowding the central areas and winning the second balls. Barcelona’s ability to find and exploit pockets of space will be crucial if they are to break through the Italian side’s structured defence.

Possession, a long-standing hallmark of Barça’s identity, will also be a focal point of Flick’s game plan. “For us, it’s very important to keep the ball and reduce mistakes,” he stressed. This hints at a conservative yet technically sound approach, one that aims to draw Inter out of their defensive shell while minimising counter-attacking opportunities.

But Flick was equally adamant about the need for concentration when out of possession. “As well as being focused in defence,” he added, signalling the importance of discipline and shape at the back, especially against Inter’s rapid transitions and the strike duo of Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram.

Flick’s comments show a clear and calculated understanding of the task ahead. As Barcelona chase a place in the final, the boss knows that tactical intelligence and mental focus will be just as important as flair and creativity.