Sorg: ”Lamine is always motivated”

Hansi Flick was sent off by Jesús Gil Manzano last weekend against Girona after receiving a second yellow card. The azulgrana club filed an appeal to all possible instances, but the sanction was confirmed. Therefore, his assistant Marcus Sorg will be the one to lead the team at the Bernabéu and who appeared before the media at the pre-match press conference.

”It is an honor to lead the team”

”It is an honor to lead the team, even though I am always on the bench. Hansi´s absence is noticeable; it is a disadvantage because he gives security to the players, they trust him, but we will manage it, just like the absences we have from players. I have been as always, positive, in a good mood, motivated. That is what we need,” Sorg expressed about the challenge he will face in the classic.

The Barça managed to win all four classics played against Real Madrid last season. In the league match held at the Bernabéu, the azulgrana team won 0-4. That match will serve as a reference. ”It is important that we are ourselves. We must have ball possession and press well. Last year we went 0-0 at halftime. We had a good transition and good ball circulation. We must avoid losses because that is when they hurt, stay together, work as a block,” explained the German coach detailing the approach they will take for the match.

Faithful to the style

Sorg does not consider it necessary to modify the approach due to the presence of Mbappé and Vinicius in the rival team. ”We must press with the ball and have high lines. If we change it, we lose our structure, and that would not go well.” In recent matches, Eric García and Cubarsí have formed the starting pair of center-backs. The coach believes that maintaining continuity is beneficial: ”It is ideal to repeat the lineup, but we have injuries, and it is not possible. We also have 60 matches a year.”

The absences and the state of the players

The Barça arrives at the classic with significant absences. Raphinha tried to return but suffered a relapse and will be out of action until after the next international break. ”All teams would miss Raphinha, but we have a squad. Ferran is fine, and we will decide tomorrow. Koundé has trained, and we are waiting for the reaction after the session. If he can, he will play,” Sorg commented while reviewing the physical condition of the squad.

One of the focuses will be on Lamine Yamal, who recently made controversial statements in the Kings League. ”One more motivation for him. We hope to see him in his best version. He is always motivated.” And, regarding his possible marker, he added: ”That Carreras will mark him, and he did very well when he was a player for Benfica? I think we won all three matches,” Sorg pointed out.

No distractions with the referees

The referee Soto Grado will be in charge of officiating the match. Barça has only won six of the fourteen matches in which the Riojan referee has officiated them. Nevertheless, Sorg avoided entering into controversies. ”We must focus on the match, and that´s it; referees make mistakes, but we must trust them. We must focus on our own and forget about the referee. We know that things happen at the Bernabéu, that there are emotions, but we must adapt to it.”

The new Real Madrid

The Real Madrid is also experiencing a new phase. Xabi Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti this summer, and the whites arrive at the classic with two points advantage over Barça. Sorg analyzed the rival´s change of style: ”They are dangerous in transitions, like last year. They press the ball out with a higher line, which they didn´t do last year. It is important that we do not lose balls.”

The German coach also explained that the coaching staff has thoroughly studied the movements of Vinicius and Mbappé, and that his players have received detailed instructions to try to stop the two most decisive attackers of the white team, especially the French forward, current top scorer of the championship.