Barcelona vice president talks Flick, Xavi, Laporta, Deco, Mbappe | OneFootball

FC Barcelona sporting vice president, Rafa Yuste, spoke to Jordi Baste on RAC1 (h/t Mundo Deportivo) just hours after the club secured their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals following a 5-3 aggregate victory over Borussia Dortmund.

During the interview, Yuste praised the team’s achievement but underlined their commitment to continuous improvement.

“You suffer because you are so close to it. This is a winning team. With Hansi and his staff, alongside Deco and the rest of the board, we are highly competitive and hungry for titles. Obviously, the goal was to reach the semi-finals, and we achieved that,” Yuste said.

“The coaching staff are always seeking excellence, aiming to improve with every match and give the best possible image.”

Despite qualifying, Yuste admitted that the dressing room left Dortmund with mixed emotions, having seen their unbeaten run in 2025 come to an end.

“No one likes to lose. There was a critical spirit in the return leg. Although everyone was happy with the qualification, we all recognised it was not our best performance and that we did not show the image we should have,” admitted Yuste.

“I appreciated that a lot, because it shows that this team wants to win titles. That can only be achieved by getting angry when you lose, so you can improve.”

The Barcelona VP was honest about how improbable this scenario seemed just a few months ago, saying:

“I would have said it was very difficult. No one expected that with Flick, who had just arrived, though he had plenty of experience with Bayern and the German national team, and was introducing new methodologies, we would be in this position.

“I will say this: we have not won anything yet, just to put things into perspective. We must remain humble. We are well positioned in all competitions, but I am cautious because matches still need to be played.”

Discussing the appointment of Flick, Yuste spoke about how there was an internal consensus for Rafa Marquez to replace Xavi Hernandez.

However, it was club president Joan Laporta who sent Deco and Bojan to Germany to speak with the 60-year-old tactician.

“It happened more or less like that. During the election campaign, Laporta and I met with Ralf Rangnick, a top German fitness coach and trainer,” revealed Yuste.

“He told us German football was in a strong position and mentioned that Hansi had the necessary qualities to coach the club. At that time, it was not possible because Flick was committed to the German national team,” he added.

Yuste very happy with Flick. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

“Initially, Xavi expressed full confidence in the squad, but eventually he did not demonstrate the certainty he had conveyed to us. That is why the President decided to change the coach,” Yuste further explained.

On a possible contract renewal for Flick, Yuste confirmed that no negotiations have taken place, saying:

“He signed for two years, his contract ends in 2026. He said the other day that he prefers to go year by year because he does not like long-term contracts. We have not started negotiating his future.

“There have been discussions, but both he and his wife are very happy in Barcelona. Hansi is beginning to understand what ‘Més que un club’ means.”

Highlighting the synergy between Flick and the club sporting director Deco, Yuste added:

“I want to highlight the partnership between Flick and Deco. I do not want to make comparisons, but it reminds me a lot of the Pep Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain era.”

Lastly, Yuste addressed the one-match suspension given to Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe for his challenge on Antonio Blanco during the match against Alaves.

“The tackle and the punishment are absolutely absurd. It was chilling and could have injured the opponent. It is a disgrace,” he concluded.