Barcelona will face off against Real Valladolid on Saturday evening at the Montjuic Stadium aiming to make it four wins in four La Liga games under Hansi Flick.
Having already opened up a four-point lead over arch-rivals and reigning champions Real Madrid, Barcelona will hope to widen the gap further and put pressure on Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
On the eve of the game, manager Flick attended his customary pre-match press conference and addressed several topics, including the possibility of any deadline-day deals for Barcelona.
On Valladolid and La Liga
Kicking things off, the manager shed light on what he expects from tomorrow’s game against Real Valladolid, saying:
“It’s always better to win. So far we have done well in the first three games. Valladolid are a good team and defend well, but we know how to attack. It will be a difficult game.”
Hansi Flick was also asked about Real Madrid’s poor start to the season in comparison to his team, but the manager insisted that it is too early in the season to predict how things will go.
“It will be a long season and I don’t care too much about the current situation. I’m focused on Barça and I hope we do well again tomorrow,” he said.
“We’ve been preparing again today, with a strong training session. We are looking forward to the match against Valladolid. We are ready to play.”
On the areas he wants to see improvement from his team, Flick remarked: “It’s very important that the team is very much in the game from the start. We can’t wait 10 minutes. Then we have a lot of confidence in the second half.
“We are 100% and that’s what I want for this team. It’s necessary, the basis of our idea. The quality of the team is fantastic.”
On the squad
Flick then touched upon the season-ending ACL injury suffered by Marc Bernal, praising him and saying that the 17-year-old will be missed during the rest of the campaign.
“Bernal will be sorely missed. It’s amazing how he learned to play in our system. What he has done is unbelievable and now we have to replace him with the team we have.”
On how he plans on replacing Bernal in the pivot midfield position, Flick confirmed that he will try Marc Casado and Eric Garcia, saying:
“I’ve seen a lot of good things from Marc Bernal, now we have to concentrate on the players who will replace him: Casadó or Eric. We will give them the opportunity to play in this position. I’m confident that they can do it perfectly.”
When asked about the fantastic start he has made to the season, Flick credited the team for it, as he said:
“I don’t have to talk about myself. What you can see with my staff is that we have a special mentality. I love these players I have. They are very professional. I admire this team.
“After the win against Rayo, I was surprised by the way Marc Bernal was supported. I’m very proud of the team’s reaction.
“With this mentality they have, it’s fantastic. You can only win if you have this mentality as a group. We are united. Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it well.”
Flick also provided an update on the condition of long-term absentee Frenkie de Jong amid talks of him potentially undergoing surgery.
“I hope he doesn’t have to have surgery. He is recovering and making progress. Now we have to wait how he evolves with this training load. I hope to have him back after the international break, but I can’t confirm it yet. We’ll see what happens after the break,” he said.
Regarding Fermin Lopez and him not starting in the game against Rayo Vallecano, Flick remarked:
“It’s true that he hasn’t been a starter, but he has the quality to start in the eleven.”
“I think Fermín is an ‘8’ or a ‘10’. He arrived later than the rest of his teammates and that’s why he didn’t start. The season is very long and when he has come on he has shown what he can do.”
On transfers
The talk then quickly moved to the transfer market and how Barcelona have performed in this summer window, to which he responded:
“I don’t look at this. I signed to be the coach here and I know what we have. I am happy with the team.”
Flick also provided a definitive update on the future of Eric Garcia, stating: “Yes, I can confirm that he will continue.”
The manager also confirmed that Eric will be an option for the defensive midfield role moving forward, as he said:
“His natural position is centre-back, but it’s good to have players who can play in several positions. You have to adapt and it’s good to have players like Eric or Rapha up top who can occupy other positions. Eric will have to play more as a midfielder.”
Flick also discussed Barcelona’s failed attempt at signing his compatriot Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen, saying:
“We have to accept this situation. If the player is not here… There are a lot of rumours in the football world. If a player arrives I am happy, but tomorrow we will have a starting XI and five changes.
“It’s not complicated. It’s a question of knowing which players I have at my disposal. Tomorrow we will have 18.”
Source: BarçaOne