Hansi Flick: “Today we are looking forward to going home”

Flick opened his appearance highlighting that for Barça this return to Camp Nou after the renovations is very special, and emphasized that “we play in a football stadium, which is what we like.” He added that he hopes the atmosphere and the closeness of the fans will become a decisive factor for the team.

About the opponent and tomorrow´s match

The German coach defined Athletic as a “very good” team that is coming in with a strong dynamic, so it will be a “great opportunity to measure our current situation.” Flick insisted that his squad must focus on one match at a time, “there is still a long way to go until the end of May” and “we are not going to think about other teams, we have to look at ourselves and give our best match after match.”

Squad status: injuries, recoveries, and management

The coach confirmed that Pedri is progressing well but “we are taking it step by step, we don’t want to put pressure on him.” He did not want to assure whether he will be available against Athletic, although he stressed that they are “happy with his progress.” Regarding Frenkie de Jong, he pointed out that, just like with Pedri, they are “great players who give us confidence,” but that sometimes “we won’t be able to count on them and we have to manage that situation.” About Lamine Yamal, Flick described him as “one of our players, who works hard, disciplined, manages the situation well” after his absence with the national team. He also communicated that Raphinha´s return is “good news,” that “he is back” although he will start from the bench. And in a more technical note, he announced that he has doubts about Marcus Rashford due to fever.

About the symbolism and context of the club

When questioned about Lionel Messi´s situation and his possible return to Barça, Flick was clear: “His contract ends in 2028, mine in 2027… it doesn’t depend on me.” He also commented on the emotional bond with the stadium: “I went up the stairs and felt incredible sensations,” emphasizing the importance of Camp Nou for his team. Flick closed by warning that right now he is focusing on the next four weeks “with nine matches where there are many points at stake.” External ‘noise’ like that between the club and the federation will not distract the team. He was also direct in assuring that “we are going match by match, we should not doubt what we want to do and how we want to play.”