Hansi Flick talks Alvarez, Rodri, Gavi, Balde ahead of Barcelona vs Athletic Club

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·26 August 2026

Hansi Flick talks Alvarez, Rodri, Gavi, Balde ahead of Barcelona vs Athletic Club

Following their 5-0 win against Elche in their first game of the 2026-27 season, FC Barcelona are set to face Athletic Club in their second La Liga game. This will be the first game of the season for the Blaugranes at the Spotify Camp Nou, and the fans would be particularly excited to see a significantly changed team to take to the field for this new season.

As Mundo Deportivo has reported, Hansi Flick addressed his customary press conference ahead of this match, and talked about different aspects related to his team, the transfer market, and the upcoming game.

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The very first question put to the German coach was about Julian Alvarez, and Flick indicated that he wants the Argentine in his team:

“The president made it clear, and Deco and I agree.”

Alejandro Balde has seen his future at Barcelona come into question in the last few days, especially after he was left out of the squad for the game against Elche, but Flick ensured that he will be called up for the Athletic Club game:

“He is part of the squad for tomorrow. Whether he plays or not, I’ll decide. I’ve spoken with him, and the important thing is that he is 100% committed to us. He’s 22 and very young; he has potential. His first season here was fantastic, but he can improve further. He comes from La Masia and has the Barça colours in his heart, but he has to be here and improve. Every year, three or four players come through La Masia who also want to play. They have to be 100% committed to professional football.”

The Barcelona coach was once again asked about Alvarez, but this time, he did not make a clear comment:

“What I can say is that. I don’t want to talk about Julián; I want to talk about the club’s situation. We’ve made some very good signings. The club has to think about the future. As a coach, I ask for the best and for more, but then it may or may not work. I have confidence in the team, and we’ll have to manage things and find solutions for certain matches. But our quality is enormous. The club and Deco are doing a great job for the next three or four years.”

The German tactician also did not clarify whether Livakovic will join his team this summer:

“We’ve discussed this situation. We’re very happy with Tek, and we’ll see what happens over the next few days. There are still days left to make a decision.”

Flick ensured that he was focused on the game ahead when asked about the planned tribute to the world champions ahead of the next match:

“I’m focused on the match. The players did a fantastic job at the World Cup, but for me, that’s in the past. We have to focus on tomorrow’s match.”

The Barcelona coach admitted that Lamine Yamal is not yet at his best level:

“He had a small problem; he had a headache. Lamine is a genius, so it’s normal. He had three weeks of holiday and has only trained for a few days. It’s normal that he isn’t at his maximum level. We have to find a solution for him to get back to his best level, but I value his 60 minutes very highly. He pressed very well for the first goal and, for the second, he gave the ball to Raphinha. He gives us more options. He helped us a lot and he’s doing well. We’ll see how he progresses, but we need him because he’s exceptional.”

The German trainer also confirmed that Rodri can make his debut tomorrow:

“Yes, he can play. We’re planning for him to play.”

Flick spoke highly of his rival for the upcoming game, Edin Terzic:

“I know him very well. He came to see me in Barcelona. He has a clear structure, plays simple football and has the same philosophy as Athletic. He fits the team very well.”

The Blaugrana trainer highlighted his options in midfield after Rodri’s arrival:

“We also have Bernal. Rodri has more experience and is a complete leader. With Pedri, we’ll be able to control the game and the ball. Against Elche, we lost the ball too quickly and when Pedri came on, the match changed. We controlled the ball more, and that’s what we need. Rodri is one of the best, and together with Pedri, we’ll see. I’m looking forward to seeing them play together at Barça. They’ll be at a top level.”

Regarding another midfielder, Gavi, the German coach ensured he is not suffering from anything serious:

“He’s fine. He feels much better than after the match. The scans show that it’s not a serious situation. We have to wait a week for him to return.”

Similarly, Flick was also happy with his options in defense:

“I think we’re fine with the defenders we have. There are some more options. Eric can play in several positions, and so can Jules and Gerard. Andreas and Gerard did very well, and we have Cubarsí, who for me is one of the best centre-backs. He played a lot last year and I want to take care of him because he’ll also play a lot of matches this year. He was named the Best Young Player at the World Cup and he’s incredible. I’m very happy that he plays for us.”

Lastly, the Barcelona coach again talked about Yamal and his desire to continue playing:

“I don’t think I understood it correctly. It’s normal that he wants to play. When you’re a true champion, you always look to win the next title. That’s his attitude. All the players in the team are hungry to win the third consecutive La Liga title. We’re ready and we’ll fight for it.”

The most exciting part of this press conference was certainly the confirmation that Rodri can make his debut for Barcelona tomorrow. Hopefully, the team will put in another convincing display in this game after their dominant win against Elche in the first game.