Hansi Flick appeared before the media in the press conference prior to the match between FC Barcelona and Young Boys, valid for matchday two of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25, scheduled for this Tuesday at 9:00 PM at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, the home of the Blaugrana club. A match in which the culés will seek to return to the path of victory, following a tough setback in Pamplona against CA Osasuna, with a 4-2 score against them.
The intervention of the German coach before the media was full of peculiarities, the first being that he spoke in his native language, German. Beyond this curious detail, the Heidelberg native addressed a series of important issues concerning the Barça team, perhaps the most relevant being the confirmation of Frenkie de Jong's much-awaited return.
"It's great news to have him back in the team, even if it's just for 5 or 10 minutes at the beginning. We had some injured players and after October, we will recover three players. It will be very beneficial for the team, for the youngsters. To help them, we have already discussed it. I don't know how much he will play, maybe 20 or 10 minutes," Flick remarked.
Speaking of Frenkie de Jong, although confirming that he can now count on him, he emphasized that his presence on the field will largely depend on how the match against the Swiss team unfolds. "With Frenkie, we need to see how the game goes. We don't have many players in that position. The important thing is to make few mistakes with the ball and impose our style," he added.
The Arrival of Szczęsny to FC Barcelona
Regarding another hot topic making headlines in the Catalan press, the increasingly likely arrival of Wojciech Szczęsny as the goalkeeper of FC Barcelona, Hansi Flick revealed that he has had some contact with the Polish player, although he preferred to remain cautious in his statements. "Yes, I spoke with him, but I won't say anything more. If he signs for Barça in the next few days, we can discuss the matter in the next press conference, but not now," he emphasized.
However, he was firm in stating whether Szczęsny would have a guaranteed starting position if he joins the team. "I don't talk about players who are not yet in the team. Players at Barça cannot receive guarantees of starting positions," he pointed out.
The Match against BSC Young Boys
In relation to the clash against BSC Young Boys, Hansi Flick made it clear that he will not opt for an alternative lineup as he did in Pamplona, but will field his best team. "Against Young Boys, we will start with our best team, we know we have to win. We don't know how many points are needed, so we have to accumulate as many as possible with this new Champions League format," he warned.
Similarly, the German coach expressed optimism about the team's ability to get back on track in the Champions League after their challenging debut against Monaco (2-1) in matchday one. "We lost in Monaco, but I don't dwell on that or the past. The important thing is to perform well in the Champions League, and for that, we need to win games. I am very optimistic. If we have to earn respect again, we will do it," he emphasized.
Keys to Success in the Match against the Swiss
In a concise manner, he analyzed the strengths of the Swiss team. "Young Boys have been champions, but they haven't started as well this year. But they have a lot of speed, are organized, the team is young, and they play well on the counter," he noted.
Finally, he highlighted what FC Barcelona must do to show their best version against the Swiss. "When you make a lot of mistakes, like against Osasuna, it's harder to defend. You have to make fewer mistakes, control the ball better. At Barça, we know how to do it very well with the ball. You have to position yourself well and make few mistakes, especially in defense. It's a collective responsibility," he concluded.