'We want more', says Olmo with Barcelona bound for knock-outs

Barcelona went ahead twice, the first time through Raphinha and the second through Ferran Torres, but Serhou Guirassy struck back to level on both occasions. Torres scored the winner with five minutes remaining, with Barcelona going the length of the field from a Dortmund corner to seal the win.

The victory means Barcelona, who now sit in outright second behind Liverpool with 15 points, successfully made it through the league phase of the new format. Olmo, who laid on an assist in his return to Germany where he spent four years at RB Leipzig, called on his side to "keep this mentality, this focus".

"We want to win every game. Of course 15 points is a good amount but we want more," he said. The 26-year-old said he and former Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski and one-time Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick spoke to the squad about what to expect at the Westfalenstadion, which he called "one of the temples of football".

"It was a really good atmosphere to play against so I enjoyed it to be back in Germany."

Flick told reporters the first half was "one of the best we've played" since he arrived in the summer. "It's very special to win here. We knew that whoever wins here would take a massive step towards qualification. It was our goal and we pushed for that," the German said.

The coach put the brakes on expectations, saying there was "a long way to go" for the five-time Champions League winners in the new format.

"Our aim is to get into the top eight first. I think that if we manage that, then we will have achieved a lot, but the journey is still far from over. That's why we'll be looking from game to game. I think we're doing really well with that."

 

December 12, 2024