German Hansi Flick, head coach of FC Barcelona's first football team, spoke about the match against Athletic Bilbao in the 2026/2027 La Liga season.
Barcelona, led by German Hansi Flick, will face their counterpart Athletic Bilbao tomorrow, Thursday, in the postponed first round of the Spanish La Liga.
The "Spotify Camp Nou" stadium will host the Barcelona vs. Athletic Bilbao match at 10:00 PM Cairo and Mecca time.
Flick said in the pre-match press conference: "Not signing any striker other than Alvarez? I believe the president made a clear statement about that, and I and Deco agree with him."
He added: "Balde's future? He is part of the team tomorrow, and whether he will play or not, we will decide that tomorrow. But what I can say is that I have certainly spoken to him, and for me, it is important that he is 100% committed to us."
He continued: "As you know, Alejandro Balde is only 22 years old. He is still a very young player and also has great potential. I have always said that his first season here was wonderful, as was the development he achieved, but now is the time for him to develop further."
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He added: "Of course, these players come from La Masia, and it is wonderful to see how they develop and how they carry the colors of Barcelona in their hearts. That is a great thing, but in the end, they also have to work hard every day and develop. That is their job, and that is what they have to do."
Regarding Alvarez again, he stated: "I do not want to talk about Julian Alvarez, as you know. I just want to talk about the club's situation. We have made very good deals in the current transfer market, and our goal is clear, but in the end, the club also has to think about the future, not just the present."
He emphasized: "Of course, as Barcelona's coach, I can say, please give me the best players you can sign, and more, and more, and more. It might work, and it might not. I have full confidence in my team and the quality we currently have. Of course, there are some things we have to deal with, and perhaps we need to find solutions for some situations and in some matches."
He affirmed: "The quality we have is wonderful, and we must make the most of it. For me, the club is doing a great job because it also thinks about the future. We choose the best option, not just for this moment, but also for the next 3, 4, or 5 years. That is a good thing, and I believe it gives the club stability, which is what we all want."
Regarding the signing of Livakovic: "We only have one goalkeeper, but for me, it is also good to have an experienced goalkeeper for the coming years. We are very happy with Tercig, and we will see what happens in the coming days. We also have to see what happens in the transfer market."
Regarding the honoring of the World Cup-winning players: "As you know, I am focused on the match. They did a great job in the World Cup, and I believe they deserved the title well. But for me, that is in the past. Now we have to think about the present and focus on tomorrow's match."
Regarding Lamine Yamal's frustration during the match against Elche: "Yes, we had a small problem. He suffered from some headaches, but in the end, as you know, Lamine Yamal is a genius player, and we all know that."
He elaborated: "It is natural that he had a three-week break and only trained for a few days, so he cannot be at his best immediately. That is normal, and we have to find a solution gradually so that he returns to his best level. We have to see how things go in tomorrow's match, but we rely on him and need him because he is an exceptional player, and we need him."
Regarding Rodri: "Our plan is for him to play some minutes tomorrow. I am very happy to see Pedri and Rodri playing together at Barcelona. For me, we will see a high level."
Regarding Gavi's absence: "He is fine. I believe his condition is much better than it was after the match. Also, the tests showed that the injury is not very bad. I think he probably needs one week to recover and return, and we hope he will be with the team again after that."
He concluded regarding Lamine Yamal, when asked about the Spanish star accepting the substitution after being crowned world champion, answering with a smile: "I don't think he will understand that. When you are a champion, and a true champion, you always seek the next title and love winning titles. I believe that is his mentality too, and it should be."