Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has expressed high praise for his team’s upcoming Champions League opponents, Inter Milan. Following Inter’s 4-3 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich, Flick described the Italian side as ‘fantastic’ and ‘tactically intelligent’.

The two teams are set to face each other in the Champions League semi-finals at the end of April and beginning of May. Inter secured their spot with a 2-2 draw against Bayern in San Siro, while Barcelona advanced despite a 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund in their second leg, winning 5-3 on aggregate.

Flick’s Assessment of Inter Milan

During a pre-match press conference for Barcelona’s upcoming LaLiga fixture against Celta Vigo, Flick shared his thoughts on Inter: “I have great respect for Inter, both for their playing style and their achievements. They’re an experienced team with exceptional defensive organization. Their tactical intelligence extends beyond defense to their possession play as well. Overall, Inter is a fantastic team.”

When asked about standout players, Flick noted, “They have extraordinary strikers and a top-level defense.” He also praised Inter’s coach Simone Inzaghi: “Inter is led by an excellent coach. Inzaghi’s accomplishments in recent years are truly remarkable, and they continue to perform at a high level, which is no small feat.”

Flick specifically mentioned Benjamin Pavard, whom he previously coached at Bayern Munich: “I’ve always had a special fondness for Benji Pavard. He’s a model professional, consistently reliable. I’m looking forward to seeing him again in these two matches.”

Before facing Inter, Barcelona will play against Celta Vigo and Mallorca in LaLiga, followed by a Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid. The Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan promises to be an exciting clash between two of Europe’s top teams.