Hansi Flick en la rueda de prensa previa al duelo entre el FC Barcelona y Osasuna (Foto cortesía de la web del Barça)

PRESS CONFERENCE

Flick's Dart to Barça Substitutes Annoyed by Few Minutes: "I Understand the Feeling, but Not the Reaction"

Published:21/04/2025 - 15:29h

Updated:21/04/2025 - 15:30h

The German coach spoke after Ansu Fati and Héctor Fort's anger over the lack of minutes and made it clear that he will not tolerate certain attitudes

Calendar of FC Barcelona

Hansi Flick appeared in the press conference prior to the match between RCD Mallorca and FC Barcelona, corresponding to matchday 33 of LaLiga EA Sports 24-25 this Tuesday, April 22nd, at the Son Moix Stadium. The Azulgrana team comes to the match in great form, after adding a vibrant victory against Celta de Vigo in Montjuïc (4-3), with a comeback included.

One of the major topics that marked the German coach's appearance before the media was, without a doubt, the message he sent to players like Ansu Fati and Héctor Fort who are not getting too many minutes in his sports project. Recently, it was reported that the '10' finished the match against Celta visibly upset for not having participated, despite having warmed up for a large part of the match. It was even mentioned that, upon returning to the locker room, he would have hit a refrigerator and a chair on the bench. Also, there was talk of the anger of the '32', who showed a gesture of disappointment at being left without seeing minutes of play again.

Flick showed understanding of the situation, although he admitted not understanding some of the reactions. "I understand that some are not happy, disappointed, or sad. I have also been a professional player. Everyone wants to show that they are part of the team, that they can contribute something to achieve the objectives. I understand the feeling, but not the reaction. It is something that has to be accepted. We came back after being 1-3 down and made the right decisions. That is what the players should see. When they play, we want to see them with the right reaction. This is what is important. Not what happens during the match. Normally, everyone celebrates the victory," he pointed out.

"I understand the feeling, but not the reaction. It is something that has to be accepted."

The Fight for LaLiga, More Heated Every Time

In another vein, the culé coach also referred to the close fight with Real Madrid for the title of LaLiga EA Sports. "We don't know what will happen. If we look at the matches played, by us and Madrid, they have been tough. Until the end, it will be difficult to win all the matches. La Liga is of a high level. We hope not to drop points. We have to play and do what we need to do," he began by saying.

In turn, Flick highlighted the level shown by his team against Celta. "If we do it well, like against Celta, you can see that it is not easy even doing it well. I hope it was a wake-up call to see what needs to be done. That is what I want to see from the team now. The road is long, it is not easy, and Madrid is also a fantastic team, which will try to achieve its objectives," he pointed out.

The Copa Clásico Will Not Condition LaLiga, According to Flick

The German coach was also asked about the Copa del Rey final between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, and its possible impact on the fight for the domestic championship. "I don't think the result of the Copa del Rey final will condition LaLiga. We hope to show how good we are against Real Madrid. After this match, there are four more matches in the Champions League and also in LaLiga," he warned.

Demanding Schedule and Fatigue Management

Hansi Flick returned to emphasize the physical challenge that the schedule represents for his players. "It is something that has to be managed, it is also important to have fresh legs against Mallorca. We will try to manage what we will take into account. Many things are going through my head. The players also don't want to rest to help the team. Among all of us, we have to accept the decisions," he explained.

"The players also don't want to rest to help the team. Among all of us, we have to accept the decisions."

Finally, despite the challenges, the Heidelberg native was optimistic and valued the mental strength of the team. "The most important thing is that we always focus on ourselves. Keep improving after each match. After Dortmund, Celta... We have to do the things we want, much better. We have the quality to win against any team if we do things well. After the comeback, I see a lot of positive energy today. This is the best thing. The team is in very good spirits," he concluded.