Coach Flick to Focus on Recovery as Barcelona Lead LaLiga Race

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Leganes v FC Barcelona - Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganes, Spain - April 12, 2025 FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick before the match REUTERS/Ana Beltran
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Leganes v FC Barcelona - Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganes, Spain - April 12, 2025 FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick before the match REUTERS/Ana Beltran
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Coach Flick to Focus on Recovery as Barcelona Lead LaLiga Race

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Leganes v FC Barcelona - Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganes, Spain - April 12, 2025 FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick before the match REUTERS/Ana Beltran
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Leganes v FC Barcelona - Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganes, Spain - April 12, 2025 FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick before the match REUTERS/Ana Beltran

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is focusing on his side's recovery ahead of the season's final stretch, in which they lead LaLiga and are still in contention for the Copa del Rey and Champions League. Barcelona extended their advantage in the Spanish top flight with a 1-0 win at Leganes on Saturday, completing a 12-match unbeaten run and moving seven points clear of second-placed Real Madrid.
"We have to focus on recovery, recovery, recovery. That's the way it is. We will arrive in Barcelona tonight, train tomorrow and fly to Dortmund on Monday," Flick told reporters.
"We have no excuses - we have to recover, but that's our job," he added, according to Reuters.
Defender Jorge Saenz's own goal was enough to secure victory for the Catalans, and Flick added that a win, however it came, was a win, especially after their packed calendar.
"Three points are three points and every game we fight for 90 minutes, when you see the load the players have had in the last few weeks or days, it's unbelievable.
"After the international break, you see what my players have done, my team's performance has been unbelievable. I'm very proud of them."
The coach was also quick to praise Inigo Martinez, who made a superb tackle in stoppage time to prevent Munir from scoring when he was already heading for Wojciech Szczesny's net.
"That was also part of the game, to defend well, yes, I celebrated it. It was a perfect game," Flick added.
Barca, who are unbeaten in 24 games across all competitions, visit Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday, having won the first game 4-0. They will then host Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Saturday.



Premier League Opens Office in Mumbai 

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates by taking a selfie after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates by taking a selfie after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
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Premier League Opens Office in Mumbai 

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates by taking a selfie after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates by taking a selfie after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur and clinching the Premier League title at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP)

The English Premier League is expanding its global footprint with the opening of a new office in Mumbai, strengthening its commitment to one of football's most passionate fan bases.

The Mumbai hub will build on nearly two decades of Premier League engagement in India, where the League has run grassroots initiatives since 2007 through its Premier Skills program, supporting thousands of coaches and young people in 18 states.

At elite level, the Premier League has collaborated with the Indian Super League since 2014, sharing expertise in governance and development. Their joint Next Gen Cup youth tournament will feature its sixth edition in Mumbai next May, featuring ISL youth teams competing against Premier League Under-19 sides.

"We and our clubs have a fantastic and knowledgeable fanbase in India, and we know football continues to grow in popularity," Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said.

"Opening this office marks a significant milestone for the Premier League. It will allow us to operate more effectively locally as we build on our existing work to establish more ways to strengthen our relationship with fans."

The Premier League established offices in Singapore (2019), New York (2023) and Beijing (2024) as part of its global strategy of strengthening local partnerships and combating content piracy.