Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick says he is not focused on the league table despite his side moving to the top of La Liga.
Barcelona strengthened their position with a 5-0 away victory over Valencia on matchday four of the Spanish top flight. The result leaves Flick’s team with 12 points and in first place in the standings.
Flick’s comments came as Barcelona began the new campaign in strong domestic form. The German coach made clear that the current league position is not his main focus, despite the team’s perfect points total after four matches.
Barcelona’s emphatic win at Valencia provided the latest evidence of their early success in La Liga. They scored five times away from home without conceding, and the result ensured that they remain at the summit of the competition.
The Catalan club will now turn their attention to Europe, with their opening match in the new Champions League campaign scheduled for 9 September. Barcelona will begin their continental campaign at home against Feyenoord.
The match is due to start at 19:45 Moscow time.
The fixture will give Flick’s side the opportunity to carry their early-season momentum into the Champions League, although the coach’s remarks underline that the team’s current domestic position is not being treated as the main objective at this stage.
Barcelona’s 12 points place them first in La Liga following the opening four rounds. Their latest result, a 5-0 success against Valencia, was their most recent league performance and maintains their position at the top of the table ahead of their European opener.
Flick’s message was that the standings are not where his attention lies. Instead, Barcelona are preparing for their next competitive challenge, with Feyenoord set to visit for the first match of the new Champions League competition.
The encounter will be played on 9 September, with kick-off set for 19:45 Moscow time. It will be Barcelona’s first Champions League game of the new campaign and their next fixture after the comprehensive away win over Valencia.
For now, the facts of Barcelona’s domestic start are clear: four matches played, 12 points gained and first place in La Liga. But Flick has indicated that he is not looking at the table, even with his team leading the championship before the opening Champions League fixture.