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Barcelona will be chasing history tomorrow night when they take on CA Osasuna at El Sadar. A win on Saturday would see the Catalans equal the best-ever start to a La Liga season, set by Tata Martino’s Blaugrana team back in 2013/14.
Coming into the game on the back of a hard-fought 1-0 win over Getafe earlier this week, Hansi Flick & co. will be eager to extend their perfect start to the league campaign and create further gap between themselves and arch-rivals Real Madrid.
On the eve of the game, Flick appeared in front of the media for his customary press conference and discussed a myriad of topics.
Starting off with the record that Barcelona are chasing and what it meant to him, the German tactician said:
“It’s always good to win. We don’t focus on whether it’s a record. We go there and we have prepared to win, although I know it is very difficult.”
On Osasuna’s unbeaten run at home this season, Flick said: “They are very strong at home. I’ve heard that their stadium has an incredible atmosphere and that the fans are very supportive of their team. I like that.”
Discussing how the Barcelona players have adapted to his style and tactics thus far, Flick highlighted the quality of the squad at his disposal, saying:
“It’s all about quality. We coaches are delighted with the players, they work with a lot of passion and follow our instructions. It’s very good to be a Barça coach.”
Given how thick and fast games are coming, the possibility of rotating some of his players was broached, to which Flick replied:
“Obviously there will be some rotation, we have to do that. We also need experienced players like Raphinha or Lewandowski, who are very important for us, we have to see how they are doing.”
Flick also issued positive updates on Frenkie de Jong and Gavi, who are closing in on making their comebacks from injury.
“I liked what I saw in training. Also Gavi is recovering well, he’s in a good moment. In the case of Frenkie, he is close to being recovered to help us. It’s good to see him. I think he takes a day off tomorrow. He has trained a lot and he needs time to recover,” he said.
“The problem for him is not the normal week, he is an experienced player, he can help me even if he plays 20 minutes, but we have to see how he evolves. We’ll see next week.”
As reported earlier today, Raphinha and Marc Casado did not train with the rest of the group today. Explaining their absence, Flick said:
“It’s what we have. We give the players a chance to recover and sometimes it’s good not to be on the pitch, you have to follow the best treatment. Stay inside when they’re not playing.”
The manager also had an update on the state of injured youngster Marc Bernal, as he said: “When you’re injured at this age, at first you think it’s all over, but now he’s positive and he’s got a long road to recovery.”
Regarding UEFA’s sanction on Barcelona over the offensive banners carried by the ultras against AS Monaco, he remarked:
“I think they have given the right answer. What I can say now would be too much in that sense. I don’t think it’s worth adding anything.”
Refereeing in La Liga has once again taken centre stage this week after some controversial decisions during the game between Real Madrid and Deportivo Alaves.
One of the major talking points was the official’s decision not to send off Endrick and Vinicius Jr. – something that is understood to have angered Joan Laporta. But Flick insisted that he is focused only on his team, saying:
“I only focus on our team. I don’t focus on what the opposition can do, I don’t care. We have to do our job and that means beating Osasuna. The rest is not going to change anything.”
With Barcelona set to sign Wojciech Szczesny to make up for Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s absence, Flick was asked if Inaki Pena was capable of continuing as the first-choice goalkeeper.
Expressing his confidence in the 25-year-old, the manager said: “Yes, he can be (a starter all season). He’s working well. It’s very good the confidence he can have game by game. We have to wait.”
The Barça head coach was also full of praise for Jules Kounde, hailing his attitude and professionalism, saying:
“I’ve never had this before. After the game, he wants to train. He is a great professional, he takes great care of himself physically. In every training session, he wants to give everything. This attitude is not usual, but it’s very good.”
Flick also gave credit to the work being done by his coaching staff, as he said: “We have a superb coaching staff. The work of the coaching staff around the team is fantastic. We give the players an environment to grow in and they trust us.”
When particularly asked about the work he does with goalkeepers, the manager replied: “It’s the same with De la Fuente [goalkeeping coach]. He has a lot of experience in La Liga with Barça and has worked with the best goalkeepers.
“Inaki Pena has been involved in all the meetings and all the work we have done. In the last game you could see a very good connection between Iñaki and the teammates. He is here to improve and tomorrow is another step forward.”
Source: SPORT
