Cubarsi talks Flick, Araujo, Inigo, Eric, Bastoni, Julian Alvarez, Champions League

Barcelona’s teenage defensive linchpin Pau Cubarsi has vowed that the squad “will fight until the end” to deliver the Champions League to a fan-base still buzzing from last season’s domestic treble, insisting that Hansi Flick’s high-wire tactical blueprint can conquer Europe despite a recent dip in results.

In a wide-ranging interview with Mundo Deportivo, the 19-year-old—already a centurion in club appearances—reflected on his vertiginous rise, the nuances of Flick’s system, and the personalities that populate Barça’s back line.

“Everything is happening very fast for me,” Cubarsi admitted. “I almost do not have time to realise what I am doing, but I am very happy, always very proud to be part of the club of my life.”

Numbers underline his impact: the Catalan ranks as Europe’s most accurate passer and most dominant duel-winner among Under-21 centre-backs. Yet the Girona native refuses to be seduced by statistics. “They are good statistics, but I am not someone who focuses too much on them,” he said, adding that improvement remains a daily obsession. “With the passing years I gain experience, which is important for big matches.”

That maturity will be tested in the Champions League, where Barcelona’s high defensive line has drawn scrutiny after consecutive Liga defeats to Atlético and Girona. Cubarsi, however, defended Flick’s approach with the conviction of a seasoned veteran.

“From the outside it might look very risky, but both the coach’s idea and ours is to go all together,” he explained. “We saw last season that it worked well for us. Sometimes we have to adjust four things, which is normal, but I think we are doing things well.”

The defender revealed that Flick’s man-management style has accelerated the squad’s buy-in. “He almost always gives us the same advice: to be ourselves, with confidence and security,” Cubarsi noted. “Inside, he always tries to help us and protect us. The truth is that he is a very good coach.”

Cubarsi’s emergence has coincided with a changing of the guard at centre-back. After forming a reliable partnership with Iñigo Martínez during last year’s treble drive—Martínez has since departed—Cubarsi now shoulders greater responsibility alongside Eric García, Gerard Martín and the recently returned Ronald Araújo.

“With Iñigo I felt safe; he was the experienced one,” Cubarsi recalled. “This year I have had to take a step forward. With Eric I have shared a dressing room and the back line at the Olympic Games; with Ronald and Gerard we form a great duo.”

Araújo’s return from a mental-health hiatus has lifted spirits. “He almost behaved like a father when I arrived,” Cubarsi said. “Now he should enjoy what he likes most, which is football.”

Speculation swirls around potential reinforcements—Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni has been linked as a natural left-footed option—but Cubarsi redirected praise inward. “Bastoni is a spectacular centre-back, but we believe we have spectacular centre-backs and we are very happy with the work all of us at the back are doing,” he stated.

Up front, Julian Álvarez continues to be floated as a future No. 9 should Robert Lewandowski’s tenure wind down. Cubarsi, who has faced the Argentine internationally, called him “a world-class striker, at Barça level,” while stressing that “both Robert and Ferran are very good and help us a lot.”

Regardless of personnel changes, Cubarsi’s message to supporters was unequivocal: “Stay with us, because we are going to fight until the end, as we always have, and we will try to bring the Champions League and all the possible titles.”

With Flick’s tactical gamble, a retooled defence and the fearlessness of youth, Barcelona’s latest defensive prodigy believes the grand prize is within reach.