Balde’s Bold Plan: Barça Chase Champions League Glory Amid Slavia Prague Clashes

Baldi maps Barça's path to Champions League glory

Alejandro Balde, Barcelona's left-back, says his team would beat Slavia Prague if they reproduce the performance they showed in their loss to Real Sociedad. They travel to Prague on Wednesday for the seventh group-stage match of the Champions League.

In the press conference, Balde said: "We think we are playing great; we are Barcelona and we must win always. If we play like we did in the last game, we will surely win."

"We must win the next two fixtures in the Champions League to finish the round among the eight best," he added. "We are very excited; this is the competition every player dreams of, and we want to win it. We must focus on each match, starting from reaching the top eight, then winning the title."

Prague clash, weather, and transfer talk

Speaking about the chilly weather in the Czech Republic, he joked: "I don't love the cold, but I won't use it as an excuse; we must stay focused on the game and do what we always do."

Regarding the defeat to Real Sociedad, he remarked: "Everyone saw it; it was one of our best performances this season. We were unlucky, but if we maintain this level, everything will be fine."

On Ter Stegen's move to Girona, he stated: "We spoke this morning; he's a big idol for me. I grew up watching him, and he's now my captain. I wish him the best and hope his confidence returns after his injury."

On Joao Cancelo's arrival, he added: "We welcome any player who can help. He has vast experience and can help the young players. I'm happy he's here; healthy competition pushes you to improve, and his addition is valuable."

About Lamine Yamal, he said: "Lamine is incredibly talented and one of the best players in the world for his age. We can't rely on a single player; the team is of high quality, and we celebrate every time he scores."

When asked about the potential departure of Dru Fernández to Paris Saint-Germain, Balde replied: "Every player has their own decision, and we must respect their view. If he chooses that path, I wish him success and respect his choice."

End with a couple of light jokes: Punchline 1: If lifting the Champions League were as easy as lifting a coffee mug, Barça would be sipping glory already. Punchline 2: The only thing cooler than Prague weather would be Barça turning chances into goals while the crowd stays warm with laughter.