German coach Hansi Flick, who leads Barcelona, made a bold statement ahead of their upcoming match against Valladolid in the Spanish League. Additionally, he stirred up controversy with a provocative remark directed at traditional rivals Real Madrid. Barcelona is set to face Valladolid in the fourth round of the 2024-2025 Spanish Premier League on Saturday, August 31. Flick also revealed who will be replacing Marc Bernal at Barcelona.
German coach Hansi Flick, leading Barcelona, made a strong statement before their match against Valladolid in the Spanish League and also surprised traditional rivals Real Madrid with a fiery comment. Barcelona is set to play Valladolid in the fourth round of the 2024-2025 Spanish Premier League tomorrow, Saturday, August 31.
During the pre-match press conference, Flick said, “I don’t focus on the transfer market. I’m pleased with the team. Bernal played exceptionally well against Rayo. We’ll miss him, especially considering he’s only 17.”
Regarding Real Madrid’s league start, he commented, “The season is long, and I don’t concern myself with our competitors. My focus is on Barcelona, and I hope we perform well again tomorrow.”
He added, “We had an intense training session today and are eagerly anticipating the match against Valladolid. We’re prepared to play.”
On the topic of replacing Bernal, Flick mentioned, “We have two options: Marc Casado and Eric, who has also played in that position.”
Discussing Jonathan Tah’s situation, Flick said, “We need to accept the current situation. There are many football rumors. If a new player arrives, I’ll be pleased. But for tomorrow, we’ll have a starting lineup and five substitutes. It’s not complicated. The key is knowing the available players; we’ll have 18 players tomorrow.”
He concluded, “As for the pivot role, Marc Bernal has shown a lot of promise. Now we need to focus on the players who will take his place. Casado and Eric will have the chance to play in that position, and I’m confident they can do it well.”
He confirmed, “I believe Fermin is suited for the ‘8’ or ‘10’ roles. He joined the team later than the others, which is why he didn’t start from the beginning. The season is long, and when he did get a chance to play, he demonstrated his capabilities. While he hasn’t been a starter, he has the quality to be included in the starting lineup.”
