Flick talks Lewandowski, Balde, Martinez, Szczesny, Garcia ahead of Barcelona vs Real Madrid | OneFootball

Following the disappointment of their UEFA Champions League elimination at the hands of Inter Milan, FC Barcelona are back in La Liga action this weekend as they take on arch-rivals Real Madrid on Sunday.

With the Catalans having a four-point lead over Carlo Ancelotti’s team at the top of the table, a victory tomorrow at Montjuic would all but guarantee their league title triumph.

However, whether Barça can set aside the disappointment of the midweek defeat and the physical and mental fatigue from it heading into the Clasico will hold the key.

Ahead of the blockbuster encounter tomorrow, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick spoke to the media in his pre-match press conference, providing an update on the fitness condition of key players like Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde among other things.

On the team mindset

Kicking things off, the German tactician provided an insight into the team’s mindset after the midweek heartbreak, saying:

“We’re doing well, after the defeat in Milan everyone knows it’s not easy, but we’re doing things well. We have talked about what we want to do in these two weeks.

“We have four games and a Clasico to show how well we can play. We need to show that confidence about what we want to display.”

Further discussing the matter, he added: “We have spoken to the players to find out their feelings, we do it openly. In a game like the Clasico, we have to be at 100%, active, with intensity, dominant.

“They are a fantastic team, but we are playing at home. At every moment of the game, the fans know what we need.”

On the squad

Balde has received medical clearance after recovering from his hamstring injury while Lewandowski returned to action in midweek, playing a few minutes. However, Flick confirmed that the pair is not ready to start yet, stating:

“I don’t think so from the start. Gerard and the rest of the players are doing very well, we have to be very careful. I think in the second half they can get minutes.”

When asked if Wojciech Szczesny will be starting in goal despite Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s return from injury, Flick replied: “Yes.”

Balde is back but will not start. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

With Jules Kounde out and Balde not ready to start, Barcelona will go into tomorrow’s game with Eric Garcia and Gerard Martin as starters in the full-back positions. And Flick was effusive in praise of the duo, as he said:

“We can see that both players are very professional and have improved a lot since the start of the season. I’m not surprised. When you see Gerard playing in a Champions League semi-final…. He played a fantastic game.

“We miss Balde, he has been at a great level. It’s good news to have him back.”

On Garcia, he added: “I always talk about Eric, I love his attitude and mentality. When I tell him to play as a No. 2, centre-back or No. 6, he has no problem. He can play with or without the ball and he can score goals.”

The manager also had huge words of praise for veteran defender Inigo Martinez for the way he has adapted to the system and his leadership.

“It’s not easy, I have to think. He has a different style, he’s not the typical football player. He likes to play with more depth, he has adapted to our style. He is a leader, he focuses on winning every game, in every training session,” said Flick.

“He always thinks positively and shares that with his teammates. He is a fighter and a great leader. I am very happy with him. He’s doing very well and maybe it’s one of the best seasons he’s had and he’s 33 years old. It’s not easy to make these changes.”

Meanwhile, addressing the matter of Szczesny’s contract, which expires next month, the Barcelona manager said:

“It’s Deco’s job, I’m not in charge of contracts. He has a great personality, positive, he keeps calm, sometimes he smokes a bit, but he is like that. He’s at the right age and he’s very relaxed.

“I think he would like to stay in Barcelona. In the case of Lewandowski, he has one more year left, we’ll see what happens.”

On the La Liga title and the importance of winning tomorrow

Talking about the importance and value of winning the La Liga title, Flick noted: “I think it’s the most fair title, you have to play 38 games.”

Barcelona have already beaten Real Madrid in three El Clasico encounters this season, including twice in the finals of the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey.

However, with the league title on the line, Flick was asked whether tomorrow’s game was the most important Clasico, to which he replied:

“When you play this type of game, Madrid will also try to win. For us, I’m not worried about the situation in the table, we have to win. That’s our mentality, how we go out from the start. We are focused on this game, nothing else.”

“If you ask the players, they will always want to win it, it’s a Clasico. It doesn’t matter what happens in the standings.”

Barcelona have beaten Real Madrid thrice this season. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

On whether he thinks tomorrow’s Clasico will be similar to the previous three they have played this term, the Barcelona coach remarked:

“You never know what the game will be like. They are two great teams and we hope to take advantage of home advantage. Maybe it will be a bit different from the game in Madrid, I hope we leave with the three points.”

“When we’ve played them, they man-mark us, they’re very good in transition. They have a formidable attacking system,” he added.

Talking about the physical condition and fatigue in the squad and whether it has contributed to the team conceding more goals in recent matches, Flick stated:

“We have four games and we’re going to focus on each game. Tomorrow’s game is the first one, the most important for the fans, players and for me as well.

“It has nothing to do with the fact that the players lack the energy. In the last 4-5 months, the players have done a fantastic job.”

Regarding the high defensive line and whether it is a problem, Flick explained: “When we started, I was clear about the philosophy I wanted to implement, at the beginning we had some doubts because it was a different style.

“What you normally see is the defensive line, but you have to press where the ball is; know who starts the dynamic, who follows to regain possession. We saw some doubts, but the team has adapted very well.

They have also been improving, I think they are happy with the style of play. When I see it, how they train, their quality…. I’m happy with the intensity in the training, the focus…. I think we can see the results.”

Source: SPORT