Adeyemi says Barcelona can beat anyone as he backs Yamal for Ballon d’Or

Karim Adeyemi says Barcelona have the quality to beat any opponent and believes the club can win the Champions League under Hansi Flick.

The German forward told ARA that Barcelona’s focus was on winning each match rather than discussing the prospect of lifting the European trophy.

“When you talk about winning the Champions League, we talk about winning every game. If you win every game, you end up winning the Champions League, right?” Adeyemi said.

“We think about each match individually. If you win every game, you win everything. Our aim is to take each day as it comes, have a good training session, then another good training session the next day, before playing and winning.”

Adeyemi said Barcelona’s pressing and collective approach made them difficult to stop.

“I think we apply the pressing style well and know what we have to do. If we all do it together, then, as I said, we cannot be stopped, with or without the ball,” he added.

The 24-year-old admitted there was pressure to secure a place in the starting XI, but said competition within the squad remained healthy.

“I would be lying if I said I was not worried. Of course I am,” he said. “I think it is best for every player to believe they should start. We have to compete.”

“Football is competition. I am not the type of person who gets angry or asks why he is playing and I am not. I work every day to show the manager that I should play, and I think all the players think in the same way.”

Adeyemi described the atmosphere inside the Barcelona dressing room as “healthy and non-toxic”, adding that players were prepared to contribute even if they were given only a few minutes.

“The atmosphere in the dressing room is good. We maintain it, and Hansi Flick cares about it a lot too,” he said. “I think that is the most important thing: having a good atmosphere. If you have a good atmosphere, you can achieve anything.”

Adeyemi praises Yamal and Messi

Asked which team-mate had impressed him most in training, Adeyemi highlighted Pedri and Lamine Yamal.

“Pedri’s level is incredible, and Lamine Yamal too, of course. He can do whatever he wants, and it is crazy to watch him,” he said.

On the Ballon d’Or, Adeyemi said Lionel Messi remained his choice as the world’s best player every year.

“Every player is different. You cannot say one player is the best in the world, except Messi. For me, he is the best every year,” he said.

Adeyemi added that anyone shortlisted for the award would deserve to win it, but described Yamal as an obvious candidate whose victory would be merited.

The forward also recalled scoring against Feyenoord and hearing Barcelona supporters chant his name at Camp Nou.

“The goal was so beautiful that I said to myself, ‘Wow, what a moment.’ I loved it because the love from the fans is incredible and it makes you even happier,” he said.

Adeyemi said Flick expects him to play freely, use his pace and movement, win one-on-one battles and combine with his team-mates. Scoring or assisting brings him great satisfaction, he added, although winning matches remains the priority.

He also promised to learn Catalan, saying his Bavarian roots had helped him quickly understand the special nature of Barcelona supporters and the people of Catalonia.

Adeyemi concluded by saying Barcelona was not simply a football club, but something more like a family.