BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Ahead of the away match against Valencia, scheduled for tomorrow at 4:15 PM, Hansi Flick assessed Barcelona’s current situation during a press conference, focusing particularly on Lamine Yamal’s condition, the new captaincy hierarchy, and lineup decisions. The German coach confirmed that the forward will travel with the squad: “He was in pain after a knock and trained separately. But he says he feels fine and could play tomorrow. We have to wait to see if he’ll be on the pitch; we’ll decide. He wants to play.”
Flick then explained the choice of Barcelona’s new captains. With Ter Stegen and Araujo no longer in the role, the armband passes to others: “I chose two—Raphinha and Pedri—and the players chose three: Eric Garcia, Frenkie de Jong, and Lamine. I know our dressing room, and everything is going well. It was a good choice.” Among the most interesting new developments is Gabriel Jesus, who arrived to add further depth to the attack. Flick is satisfied with what he has seen in training, though he noted that the Brazilian is not yet at peak fitness: “I really liked what I saw. He isn’t at one hundred percent, but he could get a few minutes in the second half. He’s ready. I like his movement, his composure on the ball, and the way he attacks the goal.”
The Barcelona manager also discussed Real Madrid’s defeat in the previous round of matches, while urging against underestimating Xabi Alonso’s team. “I watched yesterday’s game; Madrid played well and created chances. That’s football—it happens. We want to stick to our style, but it will be a tough match, and we need to be ready. Winning isn’t always easy.” Flick then praised his squad and the level of performance shown in daily training sessions. “What I see during training is what matters, and what I see is fantastic. The important thing is winning and securing trophies. The quality is extremely high.” Finally, Flick addressed the topic of transfer market investments and decisions made jointly with sporting director Deco. “We made the decisions together. I’m happy. After selling players, you have to make new signings. It isn’t easy for me to look at La Masia players and choose to back others brought in from outside. The La Masia lads dream of succeeding here, but we have to be honest: we want to win trophies. We are Barça, and changes are part of the game.” The objective ahead of the match against Valencia remains clear: “We’ll see if we can win every game, but that is our goal. The right mentality and attitude are there. It’s incredible to see how they work and the atmosphere in the dressing room. We need to improve every day.”
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
