HOME AT LAST: HANSI FLICK ON CAMP NOU 'INCREDIBLE' FEELING
Barcelona returns to the Spotify Camp Nou as Hansi Flick previews the Athletic Club clash. He provides updates on Rashford's fever, Raphinha's return, and Pedri's progress ahead of the historic fixture.
In front of reporters, Barcelona's coach Hansi Flick calmly previewed the big La Liga game against Athletic Club at the newly reopened Spotify Camp Nou.
Flick answered some pending questions while recognising that fans were more excited since the stadium is now ready for games again.
He began by talking about the team's return to their well-known home stadium and how much they had missed playing there.
"We are all very happy to be back at our stadium. The other team is very skilled.
They are a very skilled team that plays in the Champions League. It's a great chance for us to see where we stand."
Flick then talked about why Camp Nou is so helpful, especially because of the feeling created during the club's recent open practice.
We would definitely rather play at Spotify Camp Nou. It was an amazing feeling when we saw it during open practice.
I think it can give us great support during the game because the fans are close and they know the team needs help.
"It's really great to see that connection between the team and the fans, and they always help us."
Regarding Lamine Yamal
Because the young player is working hard and feeling more pressure, the Barça coach was also asked about Lamine Yamal's health.
Flick said, "He has been working very hard for the last few weeks, and I am very impressed with what I have seen." I don't have anything else to say.
"There will be good times and bad times, but he has been dealing with things well."
When asked about how the RFEF responded to the "Lamine case," he continued his thoughts. Flick clearly stated,
"Lamine is our player. Our players are important to us. The national team also takes care of them, and I think that was the right choice.
He is very disciplined, works very hard, and learning how to handle everything is a key step for him. He has done a great job."
When asked about the bigger conflict between Barcelona and the RFEF, Flick chose to avoid problems and instead focused on the tough schedule ahead.
"Things are what they are. Right now, we are focused on the next four weeks. There are nine games where a lot of points are at stake.
It's what we have to do, and it's our job. We don't need to worry about the distractions."
Updates on Raphinha, Rashford, Pedri and Joan Garcia
After updates on Raphinha and Marcus Rashford, the focus changed to the team's physical condition. Flick described the problems the English forward had, saying,
Marcus could not practice yesterday or today because he has a fever. I don't think he will play tomorrow.
The good news is that Raphinha is back, and I really appreciate what he brings to the team.
We'll find out tomorrow, but it's very important that he comes back. But, he will start the game from the sidelines.
Even though Flick asked for caution, there was also optimism that Pedri would get better.
"We're taking it slow, and we won't push him too hard. That would be wrong. Still, he is improving and getting better fast.
"We're happy with how things are right now. He will be back before long. I don't know if he will be back for the Chelsea match.
Flick gave a simple yes when asked if Joan Garcia would be in the starting lineup for tomorrow’s match.
"What do you think? Yes? "Okay, you are right," he said.
Flick also heard that if Barcelona won against Athletic Club, they might briefly be in first place in La Liga. He answered by talking about staying focused and steady.
"We want to focus on each match as it comes. Like we did last year, we should always know what we want and how we want to play, because we know there is a long way to go.
“We know Madrid is a tough team, but there are others like Villarreal and Atletico; they're great teams, and that's the thing. In each match, we need to think about ourselves first and try our best.
Another topic was Frenkie de Jong being unable to play; Flick did not give away any game plan details, but he shared,
"We know how to make up for him being gone, and we've been working on how we want to play tomorrow. But you'll see tomorrow, because I don't want to talk about it today.
It’s the same for Frenkie as it is for Pedri. We believe in them, and they are great players. But sometimes we can’t count on them, and we have to deal with it.
When Flick was finally asked about who would kick off the game to start it, he smiled and said, "I don't know." Gavi might be able to do it.
MARCUS RASHFORD FIRES BARCELONA TO GLORY: WILL UNITED TRIGGER HIS RETURN THIS SUMMER?
Marcus Rashford has made history as the first Englishman to win La Liga with Barcelona. Will Manchester United bring him home?
A club with a rich tradition of nurturing its own talent secures the league title by beating a chief rival, courtesy of a stunning goal from Marcus Rashford. For Manchester United fans, this might have felt like a dream come true. Yet, the reality is different: the champions are Barcelona, and it was Rashford’s curling free-kick that paved the way for their Clasico victory over Real Madrid.
Rashford’s achievement is historic; he’s become the first Englishman to win La Liga with Barcelona, joining a rare group that includes Laurie Cunningham, David Beckham, Kieran Trippier, and Jude Bellingham. Under different circumstances, Barcelona might have taken up their €30m option to make his loan permanent.
But the situation that led Rashford to Camp Nou wasn't straightforward. Barcelona had also shown interest in Luis Diaz and Nico Williams last summer, both pricier options. Rashford appeared as a Plan C, available on loan, partly because United struggled to find a buyer.
Still, Rashford has made a solid impact as a high-level squad member, with nearly equal appearances as a starter and substitute. Scoring 14 goals in 47 matches is respectable, though not extraordinary. What stands out more is his 14 assists, totalling 28 goal contributions, averaging one every 87 minutes on the field. Some argue these stats might be a bit flattering, considering Barcelona’s European involvement, but he matched Bruno Fernandes’ goal contributions this season.
This comparison offers a glimpse into what United might be lacking. Though, to be fair, they have secured Champions League qualification and earned the most Premier League points since Michael Carrick returned to Old Trafford.
That said, United’s core squad is relatively small. With European fixtures coming up, they need reinforcements, especially in attack. This was evident well before Joshua Zirkzee’s ineffective display in Saturday’s goalless draw against Sunderland underlined why he doesn’t quite make the cut.
The squad, reshaped by Ruben Amorim in an attempt to play 3-4-3, a system that didn’t fit Rashford or many others, lacks a natural left winger. Patrick Dorgu started in that spot early in Carrick’s tenure and performed well before injury, but it’s unclear if that’s a stopgap or a long-term plan. Matheus Cunha often plays there but is essentially a No 10. Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo have rotated there too. Rashford, on the other hand, has the potential to become a regular fixture on the left.
Looking at strikers, Benjamin Sesko is the squad’s only specialist No 9. Rashford might not label himself as one, but he’s arguably better placed to fill that role than anyone else at United, except Rasmus Hojlund, who looks set to make his loan at Napoli permanent.
United’s recruitment last summer, with around £200 million spent on Cunha, Sesko, and Mbeumo, shows they’re willing to invest heavily in forwards, sometimes paying roughly £60 million for players who may not be as naturally gifted as Rashford.
Selling Rashford for €30 million would be at the lower end of what his value might be, especially considering his significant wages and that he turns 29 in October. These figures matter because United’s summer budget will likely focus on a £200 million midfield overhaul, requiring at least two or ideally three signings. Other additions, like a left-back unless Dorgu is slotting there, are also on the wishlist.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s situation complicates things. Their finances are tight, and they usually aim for quality signings on a budget. Plus, they arguably need a pure centre forward to replace Robert Lewandowski more than Rashford. Would they try to buy Rashford outright or prefer negotiating another loan deal?
There’s a feeling Rashford believes his United chapter is closing, with Barcelona as his preferred destination. Some at Old Trafford, including fans, may not be keen on his return either. After his standout 2022-23 season, the following 18 months saw tensions and incidents more than what the public saw.
Amorim’s swift decision to sideline Rashford coincided with United scoring a few goals. It was a tough call that evidently backfired, but Amorim is gone now. Carrick, a former teammate and coach of Rashford, is stepping in; after all, Rashford was United’s joint-leading contributor under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Recently, United’s interim manager mentioned that no final decision on Rashford has been made yet. The same goes for Carrick, who might stay on longer. Despite non-committal responses, Rashford could still make sense for United going forward.
There are bridges to rebuild, but remember: he scored 138 goals for United and was good enough to thrive at Barcelona. The club isn’t under any obligation to let him go cheaply, especially when he could help fill at least a couple of gaps in their plans for the next season.
HANSI FLICK TO LEAD BARCELONA IN EL CLASICO DESPITE HEARTBREAKING PERSONAL FAMILY LOSS
Discover how Barcelona and Real Madrid will honour Hansi Flick’s father with a minute of silence and black armbands in El Clásico.
Despite the heartbreaking news about Hansi Flick’s father just hours before El Clásico, Flick is still set to coach Barcelona on Sunday evening. Barcelona released a statement confirming the loss and sent their love to Flick, saying the whole club stands by him and his family right now.
Here’s what they said: “FC Barcelona and the entire blaugrana family wish to send all our love to Hansi Flick after the passing of his father. We share in your sorrow, and our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.” Even with this heavy personal loss, Flick is going to be on the sidelines for the crucial match against Real Madrid. Both teams agreed to honour Flick’s father by wearing black armbands and holding a minute of silence before kickoff.
Real Madrid quickly responded with their own message of sympathy, calling Flick’s loss tragic and sending their condolences to him and his family. “Rest in peace,” their statement finished.
If Barcelona avoid defeat in this match, they’ll clinch the La Liga title with two games left; that’s back-to-back championships for Flick in just his first two seasons at the club.
Leading up to the game, Flick spoke about the positive vibe within the squad. He said, 'The atmosphere, the connection between the players, is something really special. We’ve got world-class talent, and you can see how close everyone is, especially the academy kids who’ve known each other forever.”
He went on: “Winning a second title with this young team would be unbelievable. The guys have done a fantastic job, and now we want to win the title for a second straight year, which isn’t common in Spain.”
Picking the starting eleven isn’t easy for Flick; almost everyone’s fit and playing at a high level. He summed it up simply: “We want to play our own game. We know what we have to do, and we want to prove it. We’re here because we played a fantastic season together as a team.”
