Flick talks Olmo, Fati, Inigo, Deco, rotations, renewal ahead of Leganes vs Barcelona | OneFootball

Barcelona will be aiming to return to winning ways in La Liga when they take on CD Leganes at Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Saturday night.

The Blaugrana dropped points in the league last weekend after being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Real Betis.

However, the team put up a stunning performance in midweek, defeating Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the UEFA Champions League and will want to carry forward the momentum.

A win tomorrow night will put more pressure on rivals Real Madrid who are already four points behind the Catalans and could be trailing by seven by the time they take on Alaves on Sunday.

Ahead of the team’s trip to Leganes tomorrow, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick addressed the media at his pre-match press conference.

On Leganes and La Liga

Kicking things off, the German tactician noted how Leganes will pose a difficult challenge, having already beaten his team once this season, saying:

“When you look at the results they beat us, Atlético… against Madrid they had very close games. They defend very well and they also know how to attack deep. We have to be very focused because we are in first place, and they are fighting for relegation.”

On whether the Leganes game is very important in terms of the title race, Flick responded:

“Before every game, we consider that the next game is the most important. Tomorrow we play away from home against an opponent that defends very well and it’s important that we always keep the same mentality as if it were a Champions League game.

“It’s important to stay mentally strong.”

Discussing how his team has to stay motivated for games like these, Flick said: “We are in a process. We train hard, focused and focussed and if you have to be a champion you have to show it in these games.

“Not only in big games, but against these types of teams that are playing for relegation.”

On the squad and schedule

The Barcelona head coach then confirmed that Dani Olmo will not play tomorrow against Leganes despite having trained with the group.

“He won’t play tomorrow and it’s better that he stays here at home after training these last two days. He won’t play or travel,” revealed Flick.

Olmo will miss the Leganes clash. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

On whether he plans to make any rotations for tomorrow’s game given the Borussia Dortmund reverse fixture coming up next week, he stated:

“As the coach, I don’t confirm anything. You have to bear in mind that you have to make changes because there are a lot of games. It’s important to give the players some rest from time to time.”

On whether Ansu Fati will get minutes again tomorrow after featuring for the first time in months vs Dortmund, the manager replied:

“We’ll have to see. We will see. I can’t say if Ansu can start or if he will get minutes. I can only say that he is training at a high level now. That’s what we expect from him.”

Stressing on the importance of having good squad depth, Flick added: “It’s very important. A team is not about the starting 11 but about the 26 players we have.

“The key to everything is that we are a team and anyone who can play can contribute. Everyone knows what they have to do”.

Discussing the physical preparation of his players to deal with such a tight schedule, Flick gave flowers to Deco for putting together a brilliant backroom staff, saying:

“I think the important thing is to have a good physical foundation. Deco has done an incredible job because he has brought in a spectacular staff. Everyone knows what we need and what the players need.

“We are in a good moment right now. When you see a player tired, the next day he looks good. I’ll see tomorrow which players I’ll field.”

Regarding the fixture schedule and whether it is an advantage to play before Real Madrid, the Barça boss said:

“When you play first and win it’s better because you put the pressure on, but in the end we have to focus on ourselves and if we win every game it doesn’t matter what Madrid do. We have to focus on what is in our hands”.

On a possible renewal and his work at Barcelona

Amid speculations that Barcelona will renew Flick’s contract and held a meeting with his agent, Pini Zahavi, to discuss the same, the German tactician addressed the chatter head-on, saying:

“My answer will be rather lengthy. I really appreciate and enjoy what I have here with a magnificent staff and fantastic experts and doctors. Very professional players and they have the mentality to improve every day, it’s unique in my professional career.

“There is a fantastic atmosphere, it’s a family. All the staff at the club are amazing and it’s fantastic. I enjoy Barcelona and its people, it’s a new experience for me. I have a lot of energy and I’m thinking about what I can do to improve, but now we are starting the project.”

Enjoying life at Barcelona. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Continuing, he added: “I am not a coach who thinks about the next three years, what I like is to work for the best club in the world and I appreciate what is here. The situation at the club is not easy, but we are all doing our best.

“That’s the situation now, I have one year left and if things go well, another one. That’s my way of thinking. Step by step, year by year. I don’t think we’re not finished, I don’t know how long we’ll have left but I want to finish my work here on a good note.”

“Besides, my assistants are happy. We have to focus on the season because there are a lot of things to do. First Leganes and then Dortmund.”

On whether they will be more relaxed heading into the Dortmund game after winning the first leg 4-0, Flick said:

“You think I’ll be relaxed in Dortmund despite the 4-0 first leg? We have to show every game how good we are. Everyone wants us to play well for them, we want to show our highest level playing football.”

Talking about the changes that have been made at the club since he took over, Flick elaborated:

“I have talked about it with the rest of my staff. The most important thing is that we as staff speak the same language as the players and I’m not talking about English or Spanish, I’m talking about the idea.

“It’s not easy but nobody ever questioned it, everyone followed us.”

Citing Inigo Martinez as a role model, he added: “For example Inigo, he has adapted and is at an incredible level. He is an absolute leader and gives everything for this club, he is a great example for the rest. What he has done has been fantastic.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo