Andreas Christensen of FC Barcelona controls the ball during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and AS Monaco at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on August 12, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)placeholder image
Andreas Christensen of FC Barcelona controls the ball during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and AS Monaco at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on August 12, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick and defender Andreas Christensen are both saying the same thing about Newcastle United and St James’ Park.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick and defender Andreas Christensen are expecting an electric St James’ Park atmosphere.
Newcastle United host the La Liga champions in their Champions League opener on Thursday night, and the visitors are under no illusions of the task awaiting them.
Christensen played at St James’ Park with Chelsea and has already given his Barca teammates the lowdown on what to expect.
Andreas Christensen: St James’ Park is one of the best stadiums I’ve played at
“Hansi actually just asked me that in the car and I was pretty fast to say it is one of the best, if not the best, especially on a Champions League night,” Christensen when asked about the atmosphere. ”From playing here in the Premier League, we have to be very focused. [The atmosphere] will be a big part of the game. Like I said, it is probably one of the best I’ve experienced.
“I try to block it out, I guess. Like I said, it is a big part of the game. The times I’ve been here, it has been so difficult. Every tackle means something, there is always a message behind every action.
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“It is going to be one of the difficult things we have to handle tomorrow. It has been part of our talk and our preparation that it is a difficult place to play.
“It’s going to be hard to stay calm but we have to play our game and believe in our qualities. We need to do what we normally do and try and match their energy as much as we can.”
Hansi Flick on Newcastle United and St James’ Park
Meanwhile, Flick said: “I’ve never been here but from what I’ve heard from a player, it’s one of the best, maybe the best atmosphere here in the Premier League. I expect a really strong team, a tall team with high intensity, dynamic and who win a lot of second balls. Vertically they play really good.
“It is a team that has built over the last years. Eddie Howe and his coaching staff have done a fantastic job.”
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