Barcelona are gearing up for a tricky La Liga clash against Valencia, but the build-up has been dominated by injuries and stadium talk rather than tactics.
With Lamine Yamal ruled out and doubts over several other key players, head coach Hansi Flick faced the media to give his take on the challenges ahead.
The Blaugrana were frustrated in a 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano before the international break, leaving fans hoping for a strong response this weekend.
Yet, the squad list is thinner than expected, and the switch to Estadi Johan Cruyff has also raised eyebrows. Flick, however, was calm and clear about the situation.
What Hansi Flick said?
The German coach confirmed that Lamine Yamal will not feature, explaining: “He has discomfort in his pubic bone, has undergone tests, will not be available for tomorrow and is doubtful for Newcastle.”
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He also provided updates on other stars. On Frenkie de Jong, he said the midfielder will not play, while Marc Bernal will return slowly from the bench.
On Gavi, Flick stressed patience: “Gavi is the heart of this team. His mentality on the pitch, he gives his all and gives everything for the club. He has to come back and get fit. We need him to be confident about his knee and his body.”
When asked about Valencia, Flick praised rival boss Carlos Corberán for adapting well to opponents. But he made one thing clear: “No excuses, we have to win tomorrow, the team is focused and if we have to win, we have to win.”
Stadium switch no excuse?
The move away from Camp Nou to Estadi Johan Cruyff has been a talking point among fans.
Flick brushed aside concerns: “This isn’t an excuse, I can’t make excuses for things like this. Valencia are also going to play at this stadium, and we beat Como at this stadium.”
On a brighter note, he welcomed Thiago Alcantara back into the staff: “He brings his experience as a player, he’ll be another member of the coaching staff with a wealth of experience.”
Flick also reflected on his “Ego kills success” comment after the Vallecano game. He underlined his demand for total effort: “If you think that today I only gave 50 per cent, that’s not enough, it’s not sufficient. The fans deserve 100 per cent from every player.”
Barcelona may be facing injury setbacks and a smaller home crowd, but Flick’s message is clear: no distractions, no excuses—just results. Fans will hope his words turn into three points on Sunday.
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