Flick talks Camp Nou return, Lamine, Raphinha, Rashford, Pedri, Joan Garcia ahead of Barcelona vs Athletic Club | OneFootball

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick stepped in front of the media with a calm yet determined tone as he previewed the crucial La Liga fixture against Athletic Club at the newly reopened Spotify Camp Nou.

With the stadium finally ready to host matches again, excitement among supporters has been steadily rising, and Flick acknowledged that sense of anticipation while addressing several lingering questions.

He began by speaking about the return to their iconic home ground, explaining how much the team has missed playing there. 

“We are all delighted to be back at our stadium. The opponent is obviously very good. 

“They are a team that plays in the Champions League, with a lot of quality. It is a very good opportunity to gauge our current situation.”

Flick then elaborated on what makes Camp Nou such an invaluable asset, especially after the atmosphere generated during the club’s recent open training session.

“We obviously prefer to play at Spotify Camp Nou. We saw it during open training, and it was an incredible feeling.

“I think it can give us great support during the game because the fans are close by and know that the team needs this help. 

“They always help us, and it’s really nice to see that bond between the team and the fans.”

On Lamine Yamal

Flick provided an update on Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

The Barça coach was also asked about Lamine Yamal’s condition, given the youngster’s heavy workload and growing pressure. 

Flick offered reassurance by saying, “He has been working very hard these past few weeks and I am very happy with what I have seen. That’s all I can say. 

“There are ups and downs, but he has been handling the situation well.”

His comments continued when he was quizzed about the RFEF’s reaction to the “Lamine case”. Flick made his stance clear, saying,

“Lamine is our player. We care about our players. The national team also looks after them, and I think it was the right decision. 

“He works hard, he’s very disciplined, and it’s a very important step for him to learn how to manage everything. He’s done very well.”

When pushed on the broader tension between Barcelona and the RFEF, Flick chose not to engage in controversy and instead redirected focus towards the demanding schedule ahead.

“Things are as they are. Right now, we’re focusing on the next four weeks. There are nine games with a lot of points at stake. 

“It’s our job and it’s what we have to do. We don’t have to think about the noise.”

Updates on Raphinha, Rashford, Pedri and Joan Garcia

Attention then turned to the squad’s physical condition, with updates on Raphinha and Marcus Rashford. Flick revealed the difficulties faced by the English forward, explaining,

“Marcus has a fever and hasn’t been able to train yesterday or today. I have doubts about him playing tomorrow.

Rashford might not play tomorrow’s match. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“But the good news is that Raphinha is back, and I really appreciate what he brings to the team. 

“We’ll see tomorrow, but the important thing is that he’s back. He’ll start on the bench, though.”

There was also optimism surrounding Pedri’s recovery, though Flick insisted on caution, adding.

“We’re taking it step by step, we’re not going to put pressure on him. That wouldn’t be right. But he’s doing well, he’s progressing well. 

“We’re happy with how things are going. He will be back soon. Whether he’ll be back against Chelsea… I don’t know yet.”

When asked whether Joan Garcia will start tomorrow’s match, Flick kept things light with a straightforward confirmation. 

“What do you think? Yes? Well, you’re right,” he said.

Temporary leaders

Flick was also reminded that Barcelona could temporarily go top of La Liga if they beat Athletic Club. He responded with a grounded message about consistency and focus.

“We’re taking it one game at a time, that’s what we want to do. We know it’s a long road ahead and, just like last season, we must never have any doubts about what we want to do and how we want to play.

Barcelona can go top of the table if they beat Athletic Club. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

“We know that Madrid are a great rival, but there are others like Villarreal and Atletico, they’re fantastic teams and that’s what it’s all about. We have to focus on ourselves and give our all in every game.”

The suspension of Frenkie de Jong was another topic brought up, and although Flick did not reveal tactical details, he stated,

“We’ve been training on how we want to play tomorrow, and we know how to replace him. But I don’t want to talk about it today, you’ll see tomorrow.

“With Frenkie, it’s the same as with Pedri. They are great players and they give us confidence. But sometimes we can’t count on them and we have to manage that situation.”

Finally, Flick was asked about the ceremonial first kick for the match, and he smiled as he answered, “I have no idea. Maybe Gavi could do it.”

Source: AS