Hansi Flick, the German head coach of Spain's Barcelona, revealed that promising winger Lamine Yamal has suffered a minor injury, so he will wait until tomorrow to decide on his participation in the match against Valencia.
Barcelona will visit their counterpart Valencia as a formidable guest in the fourth round of the Spanish League for the 2026/2027 season, at the Mestalla Stadium.
Flick's statements ahead of the Barcelona vs. Valencia clash
Flick said during the press conference: "We saw it was better for him to train individually, but he will travel with us and we hope he can play."
He added: "Playing at 5:15 PM will be difficult, but we won't make excuses; playing at Mestalla is never easy. We know it will be a tough match, but we want to win."
He continued: "Did Real Madrid drop points? Real Madrid also played well and created chances; that's football, and such things happen. What matters for us is focusing on ourselves and our style of play."
He further stated: "I really liked how Gabriel Jesus joined and what I saw from him. Although he isn't at full fitness, he is ready to play. He is one of our options for the second half of tomorrow's match, depending on how the game unfolds."
He went on: "You can see how we press, pass, and compete; every pass shows this is the highest level. Ultimately, winning titles is most important, but this team's quality is excellent."
He emphasized: "We must compete in every match and every training session because the level keeps rising. When I watch training, I always see that this team's quality is very high."
When asked about the leadership hierarchy, he commented: "The leaders are Raphinha first, Pedri second, Eric Garcia third, Frenkie de Jong fourth, and Lamine Yamal fifth. In previous seasons, we had leaders like ter Stegen, Araujo, and Frenkie who weren't playing regularly."
The Barcelona coach noted: "I am very happy with the five leaders we chose, given their impact within the team. I selected Raphinha and Pedri as captains because they are key players. It was an easy decision since I now know the team better."
He affirmed: "We strive to collect every possible point before the first international break. I see high morale and a great atmosphere within the team, which is crucial. We want to improve day by day."
He indicated: "Jules Kounde is making a huge effort to regain his best form. We always make decisions based on what is best for the team. Kounde didn't start the season as a regular starter, but this is a challenge for him. I know he can play as a center-back, although he prefers the right-back position."
He added: "He delivered an outstanding performance in this position during his first season with us. Kounde is a top-class professional. He can be a great option in any position; we just need to decide when and where to use him based on the team's needs."
He continued: "It's not easy for me to allow La Masia players to leave and tell them they must depart so we can improve. I know their dream is to play for Barcelona, but we want to win titles and raise the team's level. So far, we are on the right track."
He concluded: "Whether Raphinha plays on the wing or as a central striker, he delivers an excellent performance. Currently, he is our best option in this position, characterized by high pressing, speed, and much more."
