Barcelona coach Flick attended the pre-match press conference for the league match against Deportivo Alavés, where he shared his views on the Ballon d'Or and said that Yamal also deserves the award.
Before the press conference officially began, Flick offered condolences on behalf of Barcelona to the victims of the Spanish high-speed rail accident:
“On behalf of our players, coaching staff and myself, I extend our deepest condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy. Our hearts go out to the families going through this heartbreaking time, and we send them our support and love.”
Raphinha has been called up to the new Brazil national team squad. Given his history of injuries on national team duty and the fact that his performances this season have been below the level of the same period last season, do you need to discuss his workload with him?
I have also discussed this with Deco. As everyone knows, he is a very important player for us. He came back injured after the last international break, which is not what we wanted to see, but it has already happened and there is nothing we can do about it. I know that Raphinha, as captain, certainly cares about the club, but he is also Brazilian, and when he is called up by the national team, he has a duty to respond. Moreover, after the World Cup, Brazil are in a new situation, and every Brazilian player wants to help the team.
For my part, I would certainly be happy if he could manage his energy a bit. We also know that traveling to and from Singapore is tough, but I can't change that.
After successive losses to PSG and Real Madrid, has the team discussed how to improve against strong opponents if you want to win the Champions League this season?
I always say the season is still long, and losing at this stage is not necessarily a bad thing, because it doesn't have serious consequences. Of course, none of us want to lose to Real Madrid. The players don't, I don't, the fans don't, the club doesn't and you don't, but we just have to accept it. I think we could have won that game. We had chances, but all we can do now is accept the defeat and learn from it. As you can see, four of our defenders, Kounde, Espad, Eric Garcia and Christensen, are injured, and it is not easy to deal with this situation. We must find solutions and we will do our best, but for tomorrow's game the situation is clear: the most important thing is to win and take all three points.
On Monday, Kane won the Ballon d'Or. What are your thoughts on Lamine Yamal not winning the award? Have you spoken to him? How is he feeling?
I think Kane deserves the award. You know my opinion of Yamal: I think his level is also worthy of the award. After the ceremony, I spoke to him and to the whole team. I think he spoke very well in his speech after receiving the Kopa Trophy. He said that Cubarsi also deserved the award, because Lamine had won it in the previous two years. I think it was fitting that Cubarsi received this trophy because he performed outstandingly last season and played very well at the World Cup.
I am very proud of Lamine because he responded very well and has been very focused in training, which is what a top player should be like. He is performing well now, and I am very happy that he can maintain this form. His mentality is also very good for the team. We accept this result, and I am glad it's over, so now we can focus on the important things.
With four defenders injured and only two center-backs available, does the club need to consider signing a center-back in the winter transfer window?
When the transfer market opens, we always look for the most suitable players for the team and study how to make the team better. We'll see then; there are still a few weeks until the winter window. I talk to Deco, Bojan and my staff every day; that is how we work. If we can do something in the winter window, maybe we will.
In the Clásico, Barcelona defended corners very well, but you also admitted that the team still has room for improvement defensively. How exactly do you plan to achieve that?
I often say that defending is not just the job of the backline. It also involves the forwards; everyone has a part to play. First, we cannot lose possession as easily as we did against Real Madrid; that is not our normal level. I also mentioned that it might be related to our recent fatigue, but we have often made such mistakes in previous games, so we must be more focused. In addition, defending inside the box is very important, particularly marking opponents, which we haven't done very well. We need to work more on this in training and emphasize it to the players.
This week is the first time this season, apart from international breaks, that there are no midweek matches. After two consecutive losses, will this rare break help the team's physical and mental recovery?
Of course. But we also can't know how this break will affect the next game. When the game starts tomorrow, everyone must get into the rhythm and focus on the match, understanding that we must give the right response. We did lose two games, but the team played well, and we have confidence in our ability. This is what I want to see from the team. The team trained well today, I can feel that the players are in a good mood, and the atmosphere in the team is good. We must show it in the game tomorrow. Deportivo Alavés are very good at defending and it's not easy to score against them, but we are Barcelona, and we want to show our best side.
Ebrima Tunkara is appearing more and more often in first-team training. Is his debut coming soon?
He has also just recovered from injury, but he has played some games for the B team. He took part in our entire pre-season, and I am satisfied with what I saw. He performs well in training, so anything is possible.
In some games, we have seen Rodri reminding his teammates to slow down the pace and take more control of the game, while players like Raphinha and Yamal play more directly. Have you discussed this with Rodri? Do you share the same view?
I remember answering this question before. We faced the same problem last season. Focusing on controlling the game, keeping possession and reducing turnovers is key. When you control the game, you can dictate how the ball is passed and make your opponents run after it. Not losing possession is a good thing, because once you lose it, you have to run back. We are not doing well enough in this regard and must improve. The best way is to make fewer mistakes. Rodri is right to tell his teammates to stay calm and take more control of the game.
With only two full-backs available, you have called up players from the youth team. Given the upcoming three-game week, will you rest two first-team players? Is Brian Fariñas an option at full-back?
Yes, he could be one of our options in that position. Brian is a very intelligent player. He has been training with us since the start of the season and has performed very well. I think it's time for him to play; he deserves an opportunity.
De Jong has been at Barcelona for many years. Although he has never truly won over the fans, he has always had the trust of every coach. Why is that?
I can only speak for myself. I have complete trust in De Jong. When he is 100% fit, he is an incredible player with excellent ball control, and with the right attitude and mindset he can also help the team a great deal defensively. For me, he is an excellent player, and he raises the team's level.
Is Balde's problem mainly physical or psychological? Could De Jong play as a center-back tomorrow?
As I said before, we must solve the center-back problem. Currently, we only have Gerard and Cubarsi available, and this period is very demanding for both of them, so it's important to find other suitable options, and we are working on it. I think De Jong can play in different positions, not just midfield, and possibly also at center-back.
As for Balde, perhaps he currently lacks the confidence he needs to play matches, and belief in our playing style. We always attack and press high, and full-backs are very important in this style of play. To perform at his best, he needs to have enough confidence.
Yesterday, the Barcelona board met and emphasized in a statement their confidence in you and the coaching staff. After the two recent losses, have you received any signals from the management?
No, I have always been in contact with the president and Deco. Of course, the board's support is very heartwarming, but I am very clear about our situation. Although we lost two important matches in one week, I have 100% confidence in my team. I am doing my best in my job, nothing has changed, and my commitment to coaching this amazing club and this amazing team has not wavered in the slightest. I am happy to be here. We won the first 11 games and lost the last two, so now we must get back to winning ways. That is the work we need to do, but I firmly believe in our philosophy and playing style, and we will stick with it.