October 17, (THEWILL) — Barcelona manager, Hansi Flick, firmly rejected suggestions of internal conflict at the club during Friday’s press conference, categorically denying that sporting director Deco had pressured him to field Lamine Yamal against Paris Saint-Germain. The coach dismissed the allegations outright, stating that such interference would never occur and branding the reports false.
Flick expressed complete confidence in his relationship with the club’s hierarchy and his freedom to make squad decisions independently. He stated: “I never, never, was asked that. I really appreciate how they believe in my work. They would never ask me something like this.”
Barcelona faces a mounting injury situation that has sidelined eight senior players ahead of Saturday’s LaLiga encounter against Girona. The club is without Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, Joan Garcia and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, leaving the squad significantly depleted. Flick acknowledged the scale of the challenge, noting that more than 30 per cent of the senior squad remains sidelined.
The Barcelona manager outlined contingency plans despite the staffing shortage, indicating that players returning from injury would need careful management. Flick confirmed that Yamal and Lopez had resumed training but could not feature for the full 90 minutes, forcing the club to consider alternatives from the academy. He maintained optimism regarding Raphinha’s potential return for next week’s El Clasico meeting with Real Madrid, though the winger’s recovery had encountered complications.
Flick urged his players to demonstrate greater fight and commitment following consecutive defeats by PSG and a 4-1 loss to Sevilla before the international break. The manager emphasised that Barcelona must reestablish its competitive standards and the intensity expected of the club, regardless of last season’s trophy success. He concluded: “It is about attitude and mentality on the pitch. We are Barca. Our fans want to see us fighting for every situation.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
