Flick talks Lamine, Joan Garcia, Ter Stegen, Bernal, Fermin, registrations ahead of Mallorca vs Barcelona | OneFootball

A little over two months after winning the La Liga title, FC Barcelona begin the defence of their crown this Saturday when they take on RCD Mallorca away at Son Moix.

The Catalans go into the game on the back of a very solid pre-season campaign during which they won four games in four, including a 5-0 drubbing of Como in the Joan Gamper Trophy last weekend.

As has been the way in recent years, the lead-up to the season opener for the Blaugrana has once again been dominated by the registration problems, with Barcelona yet to register their new signings Joan Garcia, Marcus Rashford, and Roony Bardghji.

As such, when Hansi Flick appeared in front of the media today for his first official press conference of the 2025/26 season, the topic of registration was very much on the agenda.

Addressing the issue straight off the bat, the Barcelona head coach said: “For me, it’s a situation that doesn’t make me too happy. I trust the club, we have to wait until tomorrow. Last season was like that too. We’re focusing on what’s in our hands.”

Regarding Barça’s new signing, Joan Garcia, who is yet to be registered, and the club’s goalkeeping department, he noted:

“He’s fantastic as a goalkeeper. Tek [Szczesny] too. He supports all the players. I’m happy with the situation I have in goal.”

The German tactician also addressed the controversy surrounding his compatriot and club captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, as he said:

“The most important thing is that we talk together and that he can return to playing at the very high level he is capable of. He has to recover and come back, that’s the most important thing. We want him to be able to help the team, we’re on his side.”

Flick then discussed teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and what can be expected of the 18-year-old heading into the new season, saying:

“The most important thing is that we win as a team. I’m very happy with what I see in training. He also presses very well. For me, that’s the way forward. Goals aren’t the most important thing, but the most important thing is that we win as a team.”

Talking about how he hopes to improve upon his exceptional debut season in his second campaign with Barça, Flick remarked:

“We’ll see what happens in this second season. We’re working very hard, and the quality of training is what I expect. The three titles are not the end, we have to progress.

“We focus on winning every game, we have to win as we train. This winning mentality is what I want. We’re on the right track.”

Barcelona went on a terrific seven-game winning run at the start of the La Liga season last time out. And Flick would be pleased if his team can repeat that and sustain that form over a longer duration.

“It’s always good to start with seven wins, but then we got to November and things didn’t go so well. We believe in our mission. Everyone has to have this winning mentality,” he said.

The season gets underway for Barcelona on Saturday. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

On the team’s main objective for the season, Flick stated: “For me, the most important thing is the progress we make. We have a lot of time to improve and learn. We’re on the right track. It’s a long road to the end of the season.”

Over the past few days, there has been a lot of discussion surrounding La Liga’s proposal to host Barcelona’s game against Villarreal in December in the USA. When asked for his opinion, Flick commented:

“It’s not confirmed yet, I don’t want to think about something that’s not confirmed. I want to focus on each match.”

Flick then provided an update on the condition of teenage midfielder Marc Bernal, who has recovered from his ACL injury, saying:

“When he got injured, the doctors told me it would take longer because of his age. It’s his career, and he’ll have 15 more years. We have to prepare him for the next 15 years. If it takes a few more weeks, that’s fine; he’s on the right track. We’ll see him soon.”

The Blaugrana have a wealth of options in midfield, creating a tough competition for places, which Flick believes is very good for the team.

“It’s good for a coach. I have to talk to them, and I’m always open to communicating with them. I try to do that constantly, not just in midfield. We have a well-rounded squad, and it’s not easy to choose,” he said.

The departure of Inigo Martinez has left Barcelona a central defender short in the squad and when asked if he was worried about it, Flick noted:

“No, to be honest, no. Gerard can also play in this position, and that’s something I really appreciate. He played fantastically this season and has also done well as a central defender this pre-season.”

Regarding the role of Fermin Lopez in the team, Flick said: “Last season was spectacular. We have quality in many positions. Olmo can also play there. Every player has a role in the team.

“The most important thing is that I have to manage it. I wasn’t entirely happy with the start of pre-season, but these last few weeks have been very good.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo