Flick talks Lamine, Lewandowski, De Jong, Casado, defence ahead of Club Brugge vs Barcelona | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are back in action on Wednesday as they lock horns with Club Brugge in Matchday 4 of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League group stage.

Having lost one of their league games already this term, against PSG, Barça know they must avoid any further slip-ups if they intend to finish in the top eight and secure direct qualification to the knockout rounds.

On the eve of the match, manager Hansi Flick addressed the media in his pre-match press conference, discussing a variety of topics, including the fitness situation at the club.

Kicking things off, the Barcelona head coach touched on the kind of game he expected Club Brugge to play tomorrow, saying:

“I think it will be a similar game to the Elche match; they’ll want to have the ball. They also press player for player; it will be a top-level game,” said Flick.

At the same time, the German tactician acknowledged the aerial threat that the Belgian club possess but insisted that the team was prepared for it, saying:

“We always have the same problem, but we’ve worked on it in other games. What I like is that the players are in a good mindset for these situations. It’s not a problem.”

Further discussing the match, he added: “As I said before, we have to win all three points. No match is easy; you have to have a good mentality. Against Elche, we got Robert and Olmo back.

“Today we had a great, high-quality training session, and that’s a good thing, but it’s not easy.”

The Barcelona manager was then asked about the fitness of Lamine Yamal, who continues to deal with pubic discomfort. On being quizzed if surgery was a possibility for the teenage sensation, Flick stated:

“This isn’t my problem. For us, the important thing is that he played a great game and has trained well. We have to work hard, and if he can play, he plays.”

The Catalans have been ravaged by injuries to key players this season, hampering the team’s stability, as admitted by Robert Lewandowski.

Ready for the Club Brugge challenge. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

On being asked to compare the team’s level between the current season and the last one, Flick noted:

“We can’t compare it to last season, as we now have several injured players. We had Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Lamine at the peak last season. Now they’re coming back from injuries, and we have to see.”

Barcelona go into tomorrow’s match without Pedri, who is injured. Meanwhile, Marc Casado and Frenkie de Jong are one yellow card away from a one-match suspension.

Given the risky situation, Flick remarked: “I think so – regarding the risk with De Jong and Casado – so, everyone here could be an option to play tomorrow.” 

On the general feeling that Barcelona’s defence has suffered without the presence of Inigo Martinez, who left in the summer, the manager said:

“Yes, last season the big leader was Inigo Martinez. Now I’m very happy with Eric [Garcia], [Pau] Cubarsi, and Ronald [Araujo], who played very well against Elche. Another option is Gerard [Martin].” 

The Barcelona head coach also had words of praise for Lewandowski, who returned from injury against Elche last weekend.

“Since I became a coach, I haven’t had a more professional player than Robert Lewandowski, who has returned from injury sooner than expected. We need the young players to reach their best level too,” he said.

Concluding, Flick expressed his love and commitment towards Barcelona, saying: “I’m very happy in Barcelona. I really love this club and these players, I’m very happy at this club and in this city, I’ll give my best.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo