As Barcelona prepare for Tuesday’s Champions League Round of 16 second leg against Benfica, it’s impossible not to think about how the team and staff are feeling after the tragic death of first team doctor Carles Miñarro Garcia.
Miñarro passed away in his sleep on Saturday afternoon just a couple of hours before the match against Osasuna, which caused [the game to be postponed](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/barcelona-la-liga/2025/3/8/24379615/barcelona-osasuna-la-liga-postponed-official) shortly before kickoff. Barça players and coaches [held a minute’s silence](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2025/3/9/24381274/barcelona-hold-minutes-silence-for-carles-minarro-before-training-ahead-of-benfica-tie) before Sunday’s training session, and there’s no doubt their minds and hearts are still heavy going into Tuesday’s game.
Hansi Flick spoke publicly for the first time since Dr. Miñarro’s passing in a press conference on Monday, and revealed how the team has reacted to the news and how focused they are on winning this one for their beloved doctor.
> “I think the team is managing the situation well. We are very focused on the match, I already said it after Lisbon, that it was only the first match.
>
> “It’s a big loss, he was a great person and a great doctor. He was incredible for the team and for the club, he was a fundamental piece in our team. We will miss him, but sometimes that’s life. I think he will support us from above. We want to play for him, in this situation it’s very important to win for him.
>
> “We are ready for it. We must continue, it’s our job. It’s an important situation for the club and we want to do well.”
We should certainly expect a touching tribute to Dr. Miñarro before the game, and there’s no doubt Barça will play with a different energy and desire to win this one and dedicate the victory to him.