A return to La Liga action for FC Barcelona this Sunday at 4.15pm CEST with a key clash away to Sevilla at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. Speaking in Saturday’s press conference, coach Hansi Flick underlined the challenge ahead. “They’re a very intense side with an aggressive style" said. "It’ll be a tough match. We know them well, they have their own identity and a great crowd behind them. It won’t be easy.”
Lamine Yamal
Flick also gave an update on Lamine Yamal, who will miss the trip to Seville. “He felt good on Wednesday, otherwise he wouldn’t have played against PSG" he explained. "I’ve spoken to him. He’s better today, but still not ready to play ... Everyone knows his quality, but we have to give him the right number of minutes when he’s back.”
International breaks
Flick also touched on the demands of the international break and the need to manage playing time wisely: “It’s part of a top player’s life. If a player is good and important for his country, he’ll play. But it needs to be handled properly.”
Focus on Sevilla
Looking ahead to the league fixture, Flick was clear about the objective: “The Sevilla game is very important. We want all three points.” Following the defeat to PSG, the team were disappointed, but the coach urged calm: “Everyone’s sad after a loss, but we have to be smarter and learn from it. We will.”
Finally, he stressed the importance of staying true to Barça’s style: “Our idea of pressing the opponent is crucial. If there’s no pressure on the ball, the defensive line can’t push up. We’ve improved in recent games, but we need to keep working on it.”
