Flick talks De Jong, Lamine, Lewandowski, Gavi, Arbeloa ahead of Barcelona vs Espanyol | OneFootball

With a heated derby against Espanyol up next, followed by a must-win Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick addressed multiple key topics during his press conference, ranging from team selection to refereeing controversies.

To begin with, the German coach highlighted the emotional and sporting importance of the Catalan derby, stressing that it is not just another fixture on the calendar.

“It’s important, and everyone knows how important it is for the club and the fans. 

“We have a lot of players who came through the academy and know what Espanyol are all about. I want to win the match,” he said.

With such a crucial European tie on the horizon, Flick was naturally asked about potential rotations. 

Instead of confirming changes, he chose to emphasise squad depth and trust in his players.

“We’ll see. Of course, we have to look after the players and manage their minutes, as always. 

“We have a lot of quality in this team and whoever plays tomorrow will do a fantastic job.”

The UCL controversy

Another major talking point was the controversial refereeing from the first leg against Atletico Madrid. 

Flick is not satisfied with the usage of VAR. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Barcelona have lodged a formal complaint regarding the matter, and Flick did not shy away from sharing his frustration.

“I don’t know if it will achieve anything, or what the response will be. For me and the team, it’s perfect. 

“The club supports us; it was unfair and everyone thinks so. You can make one mistake, but not two. I view it very positively.”

He then expanded on the role of VAR, suggesting that the system failed to do its job when it mattered most.

“VAR is there so that if they see something that isn’t right, they can alert the referee and correct it. That’s what I felt was missing in the other match. 

“It’s also true that we didn’t play our best game and we made mistakes. 

“But for us, it’s not good, and mistakes like that ended up deciding the match. It’s not appreciated.”

On De Jong and Yamal

On the injury front, all eyes are on Frenkie de Jong, and Flick provided a cautious update regarding his availability.

Making it clear that the midfielder’s return will be carefully managed, he explained,

“He has to take it step by step. The next step is tomorrow, and we’ll see how he’s feeling after today’s training session. 

“We’ll decide tomorrow. The next step will be on Tuesday. We have to wait until tomorrow. If he’s fit, he’ll be on the bench.”

A similar level of uncertainty surrounds Lamine Yamal, with Flick leaving his involvement open-ended when asked if he will be rested or not. 

Addressing the youngster’s situation, he said,

“We’ll see. It’s good for him to start the match and see how it goes. We haven’t decided yet.”

La Liga or UCL?

When asked about priorities between La Liga and the Champions League, Flick gave a clear and honest answer that reflects Barcelona’s ambitions.

He stressed the importance of consistency across competitions, stating,

“La Liga is the foundation and the reason you go on to play in the Champions League. The dream is to win the Champions League. 

Flick is ready for the challenge ahead. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

“That’s why we’re here. In every match, you can see the team is giving 5% more than 100%. 

“We have to do our job in LaLiga, but, ultimately, the most important thing is to win the Champions League. It’s a goal for me, the players and the club.”

On Lewandowski and Gavi

Transfer speculation around Robert Lewandowski was also brought up, but Flick made it clear that this is not the moment to discuss individual futures.

Shutting down the topic, he responded,

“I’ve already answered this question at every press conference. I don’t think it’s a good idea. 

“We’ve got a lot at stake and everyone needs to be focused on what’s coming up. It’s not the right time to talk about this. Besides, that’s Deco’s job.”

On team selection, Flick hinted that Gavi could play a key role in the derby.

“He’s a good option to start with tomorrow. We’ll see if he can play the full 90 minutes or not. We have to take it one step at a time. 

“He played 45 minutes on Wednesday and I think he’s ready to start.”

On Arbeloa

Finally, Flick was asked about comments from Alvaro Arbeloa on the Negreira case, but he refused to engage in any off-field distractions.

“There’s nothing to say. I’m not going to waste my energy on that. That’s fine by me; it’s his opinion, so let him get on with it. 

“I’m focusing on my team and on what I can control, and nothing else.”

Doubling down on that approach, Flick added,

“I’m not interested in that sort of thing. It’s just what people do. Making a fuss around us, but we have to focus on ourselves. 

“We’re in a good position now and we have to win our matches. We mustn’t think about the others.”

Source: AS