Flick talks Araujo, Lamine, Cubarsi, Bellingham red card ahead of Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano | OneFootball

Barcelona will return to action in La Liga on Monday night as they get set to take on Rayo Vallecano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Montjuic on Matchday 24.

The Blaugrana go into the game knowing that a victory tomorrow would catapult them to the top of the league table after both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid dropped points on Saturday.

Flick on La Liga table

Addressing that during his pre-match press conference, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said: “We don’t look at the other teams. At the end, we’ll look at the standings and see how we’ll be. We’ve played some good games this year. In training, they are having a good time.”

Regarding the team’s motivation to reclaim the top spot in the standings after close to 60 days, Flick remarked:

“I have the feeling that the team want to show how good they are. It’s very good for a coach, it’s what you want to see. They want to train and improve.

“They have confidence and that comes from training and matches. Every day we want to get better and better. We have to keep going like this.”

On being asked about what he thought of Real Madrid and Atletico dropping points by drawing games in over the past couple of weeks, the Barcelona head coach commented:

“For me, what matters is what we do. That’s what we have to do. It’s important to lead the standings, but the important thing is the end. It helps our confidence and belief in ourselves, but first, we have to play ourselves and win. We want to play a great game.”

Speaking about tomorrow’s opposition, who are doing well under Inigo Perez, the German tactician noted:

“Rayo are doing a good job. I was told they were a brave team and it’s not easy to play against them, with pressure and high intensity. They have done very well and that’s why they are succeeding.”

Regarding how tight the La Liga title race is, Flick stated: “I would like to always be on the top, but it shows how evenly matched La Liga is.

“There are many teams that can beat anyone. In every game, you start again and you have to show how good you are. Tomorrow we want to win.”

Barcelona can go to the top tomorrow. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

On being asked whether he would prefer to be known for winning titles or the way his teams play, Flick replied:

“For both. The way we play is important. The mentality is good and the quality we have shown has also grown as a team. It’s important to show confidence, but our aim is to win titles.”

On the squad

Barcelona did not announce the squad list of players for the game against Sevilla last week, which came as a surprise. Explaining the decision, Flick said:

“I decided it myself. 90 minutes before the game we have to give the players to La Liga. I never knew it was something obligatory. We’ll see how we’ll do tomorrow.”

The Barça head coach also confirmed that Ronald Araujo will be available for the game tomorrow, saying: “He will be on the squad list.”

Flick also touched upon Lamine Yamal and his recent lack of goals and how he and the staff can help improve that area of his game, saying:

“We talk to the players about what they can do on the pitch and how they can help us. Yesterday I watched a video of Cubarsi, Marc Bernal and Lamine when they were 11 years old and they were amazing.

“They enjoy playing football. If they score goals it’s better. They have the quality to score goals.”

On being asked about Pau Cubarsi, who recently signed a new contract with Barcelona, Flick praised the club’s La Masia academy, as he said:

“It’s not just Cubarsi, anyone who comes out of La Masia is special. When they were 11 years old they were already playing and celebrating like they do now. It’s very important to have this atmosphere in the dressing room.

“They are great friends and I love it. Pau at 18 looks like a very experienced kid. He defends very well, then with the ball, he also has great quality.”

On Bellingham controversy

Last evening saw Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham get sent off during the game against Osasuna for his verbal protest against the referee.

The England international appeared to shout ‘F*** off’ at official Munuera Montero, who misinterpreted it as ‘F*** you’ – something that Los Blancos plan to use in their bid to get the red card overturned.

Bellingham’s sending-off vs Osasuna has brought the spotlight on referees in La Liga. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

On being asked about his opinion on the entire incident, Flick said it was a disrespectful act from the Real Madrid star.

“It’s disrespectful, but I don’t have to decide this situation. I tell my players not to waste time or energy talking to the referees. The decisions have already been made,” Flick noted.

“There is one player on the pitch who is allowed to argue with the referee, that is the captain. I like handball very much and we should learn a lot from this sport. It’s not good for the team to get a red card and we don’t want that.”

When probed again on the matter, the Barcelona coach refused to comment further, saying: “I’ve said what I had to say before.”

The manager also touched upon the time-wasting tactic that some teams use in La Liga, noting:

“‘It’s something that has to do with the attitude of players and teams. I like that we don’t waste time. I have several things on my list. I want to talk it over with La Liga and the people in charge.

“We can do things better, but this is not the place to discuss it. We have to play and score more goals, the rest is not our responsibility. La Liga can do that with the rules. I am open to talking to these people.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo