Hansi Flick and Raphinha spoke to the press in the pre-match conference ahead of the Chelsea-Barcelona match on matchday 5 of the Champions League. The coach acknowledged the importance of having Raphinha back, who played his first minutes against Athletic after being sidelined for a month, including a relapse.

"We're taking it step by step. He got injured twice and we have to be cautious. Perhaps we made mistakes with his recovery. I'm happy he was able to return. On Saturday, we saw the difference, he created a lot of space, and I love having him back," the manager argued about the '11'.

Likewise, the Heidelberg native praised a Chelsea side that has won two trophies in 24/25: the Conference League and the Club World Cup. Flick believes that the 'Blues' have a similar style. Furthermore, he supported the statements made by Enzo Maresca about the good play of the Blaugrana and the influence of Pep Guardiola on the football played by both teams. 

"Pep inspired many coaches and they learned from him. He created a philosophy. You can't imitate him because he's the best coach. I think Enzo is right, many coaches were inspired by him," explained the Barça coach

Barça's Plan Against Chelsea and the Blaugrana's Good Moment 

Regarding the match, Flick believes it will be "a great test against a difficult opponent and in a difficult stadium" which requires a specific plan to be developed, without abandoning their style. "We always adapt. We know how we want to play, but it's necessary to consider the opponent, and it's always like that. Every match. It's not always the same strategy.

"In that regard, the manager praised the good form of a Barça that has 3 wins and 1 draw in its last 4 appearances. "Players are returning like Frenkie, Marcus, Raphinha… Pedri will be back soon. So all of this is positive," added Flick, who avoided giving clues about his XI for Champions League matchday 5.

"Chelsea is one of the best teams in the world. There are many young players, a fantastic coach. It's fantastic to see everything they are achieving"

Flick does not rule out keeping Eric García as a pivot

Two of the main doubts in Barça's probable lineup concern the midfield and attack. With Frenkie back, the Dutchman is projected to start in London. However, it is unclear who will accompany him, whether it will be Marc Casadó, Dani Olmo, or Eric García, the latter having had a notable performance as a '5' against Athletic.

Regarding keeping the Martorell player in midfield, Hansi Flick commented: "It could be. We have several options. This position for Eric is one of the options. He played very well against Athletic. I'm happy with him."

Furthermore, the return of Marcus Rashford also opens the debate on who will be the left winger against Chelsea. The Englishman has been playing at a very high level in recent weeks, but the 'Shark' is coming off a brace scored on Saturday

"I am very satisfied that he has returned. He is already recovered. We will see if he will play tomorrow or if he will be on the bench. I have followed his entire career and his play, what he does in the box and in front of goal, has always impressed me," Flick explained about 'Rashy'.

Likewise, he valued Robert Lewandowski's recovery, who has scored 4 goals in the last 2 matches after suffering a couple of muscle injuries. "Right now he needs to score, of course. It's important to have a player like him. He gives the team strength," pointed out the Barça coach, who is clear about the main objective in the tournament:

"Our goal is to reach the top eight, but we know it's not easy. Last season showed us that even if you're not among the best at the start, you can win the Champions League"