Flick talks Raphinha, Lewandowski, Pedri, Rashford, Eric Garcia ahead of Chelsea vs Barcelona | OneFootball

Later tonight, FC Barcelona lock horns with Premier League giants Chelsea in one of the most high-profile league-phase matches of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League.

It is a crucial game for the Blaugrana in the context of securing a top-eight spot, considering their previous European encounter ended in a high-scoring draw against Club Brugge, while they also lost to PSG early in the competition.

Having landed in London last night, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick spoke to the media in his pre-match press conference, discussing various topics, including the fitness of key winger Raphinha.

Kicking things off, the German tactician touched on how he planned to approach the game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, saying:

“We always adapt to the opponent. We know how we want to play, but we also know what needs to be done. It’s always different, depending on the opponent.”

Praising the way Enzo Maresca has built this Chelsea team, he added: “Chelsea is one of the best teams in the world. They’ve undergone a major transformation, have a wealth of talent, and a great manager who has instilled a strong identity in them.

“They’re a young team with exceptional players. For us, it’s a good match to compete in. This is the Champions League; it’s not easy. But I have confidence in our abilities. We will fight.”

The Barcelona head coach then touched upon the form of Robert Lewandowski, who has yet to score in the Champions League this term, saying:

“He’s back from injury in great form. Everyone was surprised at how quickly he recovered from his last injury. He’s hungry for goals and is important for us.”

Talking about Chelsea boss Maresca’s admiration for Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona and Flick’s Bayern Munich sides of the past, the German stated:

“Yes, they have similar styles. Both teams want to be proactive, they press. When you saw Guardiola’s Barça play back then, everyone fell in love with that team. Their style, how they trained and played.

“And when Guardiola went to Germany, it wasn’t that we copied him, but he did provide guidance, and in Germany, his direction was followed. He’s the best. And Enzo is right. It’s normal that his goal was to emulate Guardiola.”

Flick then provided an update on whether Raphinha, back from injury over the weekend, is ready to start tonight.

“We have to take it one step at a time with him. The important thing is that he’s back. We’ll decide on his playing time later. He’s been injured twice, so we have to be careful,” he said.

“He only played a few minutes on Saturday, but we saw the difference. He creates space for us with and without the ball. It’s good to see him back.”

Regarding recent reports about how Raphinha’s recovery was handled by some Barcelona staff members and how it led to relapses, Flick remarked:

“I don’t read much, but I’ve read this. What I can say is that I’m not angry with our medical staff. We have a very experienced team.

“In Raphinha’s case, we made mistakes. But that’s human nature. That’s all I have to say. There’s a lot of noise, but nothing concrete.”

Ready for Chelsea. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

It will be a special night for Marcus Rashford, as he returns to England for the second time since joining Barcelona. When asked if he was happy with the Manchester United loanee, Flick replied:

“We’ll decide whether he starts or comes off the bench, but I’m happy for him. I’ve followed his entire career. I’ve always been impressed by his quality. What he does in the opposition’s box is good.

“He lives in a different culture, in a more pleasant weather. He smiles a lot, and I think he’s enjoying the atmosphere.”

On whether he thought this was the right time to face Chelsea, with a number of players returning from injury, Flick said:

“You never know, but I’m happy to face them because it’s a good test. The team has improved a lot in recent weeks. Frenkie is back, Rashford too. Raphinha could get more playing time.

“Pedri might return at the end of the week. Joan Garcia is back as well. We’re training focused and hard. Now we’ll see how we do.”

Eric Garcia was a standout performer for Barcelona against Athletic Club, starring as a defensive midfielder. As such, Flick was asked if the Spaniard could feature in the centre of the park.

“It’s possible. There are many options to play there. Eric is one option. He did well against Athletic and I’m happy with him,” replied Flick.

On whether the Chelsea game is a final for Barcelona, in terms of the Top-8 race, the manager said:

“Our goal is to finish in the top eight. It won’t be easy. But it’s also true that even if you don’t make the top eight, you can still win the Champions League. I have good memories of this stadium; we’ll see what it brings.”

Source: AS