Hansi Flick is approaching the match against Elche with equal measures of optimism and caution.

The FC Barcelona coach highlighted in his pre-match press conference the positive impressions from this week’s training sessions and the difficulty of the opponent. “I like the way Elche play, how they spread out and move the ball" he said. "We have to stick to our game plan and press ... I really liked the last two training sessions. Plus, we’re getting Dani Olmo and Lewandowski back, even though we lost Pedri.”

The German coach also gave updates on the physical condition of several players. On Lamine Yamal, he explained how “he’s fine. Some days he still feels a bit of pain, but he’s progressing well.”

In contrast, regarding Pedri, Flick admitted the injury came as a shock: “After the match in Madrid he only had a minor discomfort, just fatigue, but when we checked it, we found the injury. We have to accept it. Hopefully he’ll be back soon.”

As for Joan García, the Barça boss said his recovery is going well: “We’re taking it day by day. He’s doing very well, but there’s no need to rush.”

Despite the absences, he is confident in the team’s competitiveness: “Normally I don’t think about the injured players, but it’s not easy to manage" he explained. "The important thing is for them to raise their level and for the others to do so too, especially the young ones.”

Asked about Pau Cubarsí and his performances, Flick called for patience and perspective: “He’s 18, it’s normal. It’s not the same as being 25, when you can always perform at a steady level. He’s been playing for two seasons, and in 95% of the matches he’s been at the top of his game.”

Força Barça