Hansi Flick speaks ahead of Barcelona’s clash with Elche
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick addressed the media ahead of tomorrow’s La Liga match against Elche, sharing updates on his squad, injuries, and recent training sessions.
“I really like Elche’s style of football,” Flick began. “For us, it’s crucial to stay well-positioned and press effectively. Over the last two days, I’ve been very pleased with what I’ve seen in training.”
The German coach confirmed some positive injury news ahead of the fixture. “We’ve recovered Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo, which is very good news for the team,” he said.
Flick also provided an update on Lamine Yamal, who has been managing minor discomfort in recent weeks. “Lamine is fine, though he still feels a bit of pain on certain days,” he explained. “He’s progressing well — that’s all we can say for now.”
On Pedri’s situation, Flick admitted the latest setback came as a surprise. “Pedri’s injury caught us off guard because after the match in Madrid, he only mentioned a bit of fatigue,” he said. “We have to accept it. We’ll be missing one of our key players.”
The coach went on to discuss Joan García’s recovery, noting that the medical team is taking a cautious approach. “With Joan, we’re going day by day. He’s improving, but we can’t rush him. It’s important to follow his recovery process properly.”
Flick also touched on his relationship with Lamine Yamal, emphasizing his commitment to protecting the youngster. “We spoke with Lamine. It was an honest conversation, and I will always protect him — he’s very young,” he said. “He can play in several positions, but what matters most is that he gets more touches on the ball.”
Praising Pau Cubarsí, Flick highlighted the defender’s consistency. “Pau has been performing at a high level for two seasons now — around 95% of his matches have been top quality,” he noted. “It’s true that some players aren’t at their best right now, but we’re working hard to get back there.”
Reflecting briefly on the recent Clásico, which he watched from the stands due to suspension, Flick admitted, “It wasn’t a good experience watching the Clásico from that room.”
Despite recent challenges, the Barcelona boss’s tone was calm and optimistic, signaling confidence ahead of the trip to Elche.