Hansi Flick Stresses Intensity and Praises Young Stars Ahead of Oviedo Clash
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick struck a confident yet cautious tone in his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s league match against Real Oviedo, insisting that while he respects the opposition, his focus remains firmly on his own team’s growth and consistency.
“Real Oviedo are a brave team that push forward,” Flick said. “But for me what matters is my team and the intensity in every game. We’ve played well in the last three matches, confidence is growing in training, and we need to keep going.”
The German coach also offered encouraging updates on several key players, notably 16-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal, whose return to action is edging closer. “Lamine Yamal’s return is close. He’s in good shape,” Flick revealed. Reflecting on the youngster’s second-place finish in the Ballon d’Or, he added: “It’s a motivation for him in the coming years, and he takes it positively. He will have chances to win the Ballon d’Or.”
Another focus of Flick’s comments was Gavi, who continues his recovery from a serious injury. Flick emphasized the long-term view: “Gavi has a long career ahead of him, and that’s what we need to keep in mind. He’s a player with a huge heart, who lives this game with passion. We’re looking forward to his return, and we’ll all support him so he can get back to his best. If someone is capable of going through such a situation and coming out successful from it, it is Gavi.”
Praise was also reserved for midfield duo Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, both of whom Flick described as being “at an incredible level right now.” He highlighted Pedri’s recognition from Manchester United legend Paul Scholes: “It means a lot that someone like Paul Scholes praises Pedri. For me, it’s very important. He, along with Frenkie, are at an incredible level. The quality I see in training makes me really happy.” On Pedri finishing 11th in the Ballon d’Or rankings, Flick admitted: “It can be debated, maybe the focus is more on attackers. But when a player of Paul Scholes’ stature praises Pedri, it means a lot. He was an excellent midfielder and knows what he’s talking about.”
Flick confirmed that Alejandro Balde will not feature tomorrow, with his return expected on Sunday against Real Sociedad, while Marc Bernal will continue to be eased back cautiously. “With Marc Bernal we don’t want to take any risks. Against Newcastle we didn’t think it was the right moment, and of course not against Getafe either. We’ll go step by step.”
Turning to the bigger picture, the Barça coach acknowledged the challenge posed by rivals Real Madrid. “They have started really well, maybe this year it’s harder to win the league than last season, but we have to stay focused on ourselves.”
And while he admitted he avoids social media, Flick was unequivocal about Frenkie de Jong’s value to the squad amid outside chatter: “Any Barça fan can see that Frenkie’s a very important player who helps us a lot. Nobody at the club thinks otherwise.”
With his side on a three-game winning run, Flick’s words reflected a mix of optimism and pragmatism. Tomorrow’s clash with Oviedo offers another chance to build momentum, but the coach’s gaze clearly stretches beyond a single fixture—toward long-term resilience, player development, and the pursuit of silverware.
