Fermin talks Flick, Raphinha, success in 2025, Champions League: ‘We want to reach the final and win it’

With the mid-season break underway, FC Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez is again in his hometown of El Campillo to spend Christmas with household and associates.

Throughout his go to to his native, the 22-year-old La Masia graduate additionally occurred to sit down down for an intensive interview with SPORT, throughout which he mentioned a plethora of matters, starting from his learnings in 2025 to his objectives for 2026.

Fermin displays on his 12 months

Kicking issues off, Fermin touched upon what the 12 months 2025 had meant for him, saying:

“I’ve discovered many issues, I’ve loved myself so much, now we have gained many titles, the primary ones I’ve gained with Barça. And likewise with the nationwide workforce. I’ve fulfilled many desires this 12 months, and I’ve discovered so much as properly.”

“I hope 2026 is similar and even higher,” he added.

The La Masia product mirrored on his journey at Barcelona to this point and the way rapidly every little thing has modified in a brief house of time.

“On a private degree, I believe I’m a bit extra mature. I’m nonetheless younger, and I nonetheless have many issues to expertise, however my life has gone so quick that I believe I’ve needed to mature sooner than anticipated, and that’s the change from the outdated Fermin to the present one.”

The midfielder admitted that processing so many adjustments in a single 12 months was not all the time simple, as he famous:

“It’s troublesome as a result of every little thing occurs so quick and so many issues occur. It isn’t that you don’t worth it, however you would not have time to worth it as a result of you don’t cease to consider what is occurring to you and what you might be reaching.

“Generally, when I’m at dwelling, I take into consideration what has occurred, and I realise that I’ve fulfilled my dream.”

Persevering with, he added: “Many occasions I don’t take into consideration something. As I expertise it nearly every single day, taking part in with the primary workforce, scoring objectives, I don’t cease to suppose.

“However generally I’m in mattress, and I believe, ‘bloody hell, two and a half or three years in the past I used to be at Linares, now I’m within the first workforce, and I’ve gained I have no idea what number of titles and there’s nonetheless extra to come back.’”

On the highs and lows of 2025

The 12 months 2025 has been a memorable one for Fermin, having been a part of the workforce that gained the home treble in Spain. So, when requested to decide on essentially the most memorable second for him this 12 months, the teen replied:

“In the future I actually loved was the victory parade. For me, I can not even describe it. I went loopy, I didn’t cease singing and leaping.

“I noticed individuals crying, with the thrill of getting gained three titles after years with out successful so many. It was among the finest moments of 2025, no doubt.”

On the similar time, there have been some troublesome moments for Barcelona in the course of the 12 months, with the Champions League semi-final defeat to Inter Milan being maybe the toughest one. Reflecting on that, Fermin remarked:

“That day in Milan was very robust, and the times after as properly. There was lots of pleasure from everybody: from us, from the membership, from the supporters.

“And to see how every little thing slipped away in such a short while, and the prospect to be in a Champions League remaining, damage us so much.”

Quite than discouraging them, that disappointment has turn out to be gas for the long run, with Fermin and Barcelona aiming to go all the way in which in Europe this time round.

“We’re very aggressive and we’re going to strive once more. There may be nonetheless a protracted strategy to go and we’re taking it step-by-step, however we need to attain the ultimate and win it. Hopefully it’ll occur. We now have that dream, that aim of successful the Champions League.”

On Hansi Flick and his position

Speaking about Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick and the way the workforce has turn out to be so aggressive below him, Fermin defined:

“The supervisor’s message may be very optimistic, and that’s important. Whether or not issues are going properly or badly, his message is all the time one in all calm, of staying on our path and doing what he asks of us, what we all know find out how to do.

“Above all, of sticking collectively. The message within the dressing room is evident, and all of us really feel the identical means; we’re all on this collectively.”

On a person degree, he enjoys the clear steering and confidence proven in him by Flick, as he stated:

“He asks me for depth, urgent, being vertical, having calm on the ball, not shedding possession, moving into the field, taking pictures. The sport I’ve all the time tried to play. And he offers you that confidence, and I really feel very comfy with him.”

Versatility has turn out to be one in all his fundamental strengths, with Fermin having needed to essay varied roles this season.

“Truthfully, simply taking part in is sufficient for me. Proper wing, striker like the opposite day, on the left, as an attacking midfielder. However sure, the place I really feel most comfy is as a quantity ten, as a result of that’s the place I can greatest exploit my qualities,” he stated on the matter.

There may be intense competitors within the squad, particularly in relation to his place, and Fermin believes that it’s wholesome for the workforce and retains pushing everybody to do their greatest.

“Competitors on a human degree is managed very properly. The coach decides who performs and there’s no dangerous ambiance. No one falls out with anybody as a result of they play in the identical place,” he acknowledged.

“Each participant tries to do their greatest in coaching and matches to earn minutes, and ultimately, the coach decides. Internally, that makes you a greater workforce.”

On the workforce’s type, teammates

Requested whether or not Barcelona can compete for every little thing once more, Fermin was assured, as he stated:

“I believe so. Aside from one or two reinforcements, we’re virtually the identical squad as final 12 months, and now we’re in an excellent run once more, successful many matches in a row. This workforce, with the squad now we have, has to goal for every little thing.”

The attacking midfielder pointed to the losses towards Actual Madrid and Chelsea as turning factors which have formed the workforce for the higher.

“The Clasico defeat and the one in London had been turning factors for the workforce. They’re matches you possibly can lose, and it’s true that we had been inferior to we normally are,” stated Fermin.

“However since these days, the workforce has taken a step ahead, returning to what we had been final 12 months. We’re in an excellent dynamic, and we hope it lasts till the tip.”

Fermin additionally accepted that dips in type are inevitable over a protracted season, saying: “You can’t be at your greatest on a regular basis. After all, we strive, and that’s what we would like, however there’s all the time a match the place you aren’t on the degree, and issues don’t work.

“Have a look at final 12 months in November. We had a run the place we weren’t good, however we ended up successful the league, the cup and the Tremendous Cup. This stuff occur throughout a season, however the necessary factor is to remain united and react.”

The return of key gamers has additionally made a distinction, notably one – Raphinha, with Fermin acknowledging as a lot.

“He has huge vitality, and he transmits it to the workforce. When he’s on the pitch and also you see how he presses, how he makes runs, the depth in each motion, it spreads to the teammates, and all of us go along with the identical vitality,” he acknowledged.

“After all, it was noticeable when he was not there, he’s an important participant.”

Fermin additionally admitted that taking part in alongside world-class gamers like Raphinha, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal makes every little thing simpler.

“Surrounded by nice gamers like them, it’s simpler in your recreation to face out. They’re excellent, they’re gifted, and for your self it is vitally simple to play with them.”

On whether or not Barcelona are actually favourites in La Liga, having opened up a four-point lead over Actual Madrid, he stated:

“I don’t like that concept of being favourites or evaluating ourselves with others. We don’t take a look at the others, we concentrate on doing issues properly.

“Clearly Madrid are our nice rivals, but when we preserve our degree and do issues correctly, the outcomes will come on the finish of the 12 months.”

Needs for 2026

Wanting forward on the new 12 months, Fermin’s needs for the long run are clear: “I need 2026 to be the identical or higher than 2025, to win many titles and the Champions League. And naturally, additionally the World Cup.”

On whether or not the Champions League is the title that each participant aspires to win, the Barcelona teen exclaimed:

“I don’t know if it’s one of the best, but it surely’s true that it has one thing particular that everybody needs. The membership hasn’t been in a position to win it for a few years, and it’s a dream that everybody has.

“And the followers consider we’re able to successful it. That helps, and we’re going to strive in 2026.”

Final season strengthened that perception, he added: “Sure, perhaps it did. We had been seconds away from being within the remaining and we may have gained it. That additionally gave us power, regardless of the troublesome second, to know that we’re succesful and might strive once more.”

As for his long-term future, Fermin leaves little doubt, reaffirming his intention to remain at Barcelona for a very long time.

“Sure. I hope so,” he stated.