Hansi Flick, no filters: his stance on De Jong, Álvarez's penalty, and more

The FC Barcelona will face a true test this coming Sunday, March 16, against Atlético de Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. In the lead-up to the match, which will be key for the team's aspirations in LaLiga, Hansi Flick addressed the media in a press conference and made clear the importance of the clash against the colchoneros.

"I see the team very focused for tomorrow. We are looking forward to the match. It’s difficult, there are always things we can learn from and help us improve. Tomorrow will be tough, but we are prepared", began the German, who admitted to believing that the fatigue of the rojiblancos against Real Madrid in the Champions League "will not be a problem. They are in great shape, they have experience and I don’t think it will affect them much".

"If you make mistakes, Atlético will make you pay for them"

The clash against 'Cholo' Simeone's side will be a challenge for the culés, who have yet to defeat them this season. "I think we played two great matches and we need to be focused from start to finish. At the end of the first match, we weren’t as focused as we wanted. In the second, it happened to us both at the beginning and at the end, and we need to take care of those details. If you make mistakes, Atlético will make you pay for them," the coach stated.

When asked if Sunday’s match will be key to winning LaLiga, Flick assured that "there is still a long way to go. It’s just one match, that’s all. Of course, if we win, we will gain confidence. It’s Atlético, one of the best in the league, fantastic teams. I always say that teams in the league know how to play, and it’s not easy to win against any of them. We are in a very good situation right now, maintaining a good level. If we focus, we have many options and enormous potential to win".

Álvarez's penalty and the match against Borussia Dortmund

The match against Atleti comes just days after the controversial penalty canceled for Julián Álvarez against Real Madrid in the Champions League, so the topic came up during Flick's appearance. "What do you want me to say? It was a very unfortunate situation. I really feel bad for him. Julián is very good, one of the best at the moment. I feel bad for him, but I have nothing to comment on, I did not make that decision," the coach limited himself to saying.

Regarding the clash against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals of the continental championship and his reunion with Niko Kovac, his predecessor at Bayern Munich, the German stated that "I have a good relationship with Niko Kovac, he’s a good guy. But I don’t want to talk about that match, there’s still a lot to come. We have many matches before that. Dortmund is a great team, they already showed that when we played against them. In the quarter-finals, there are good teams, we are very eager. But now it’s time for Atlético."

The 'no' call-up of Gavi and De Jong's renewal

When asked about Gavi's 'no' call-up with Spain, the coach praised the Andalusian and assured that "it’s Gavi, what can I say about him? He has come back from a very serious injury and has needed time to recover. He is one of the best players, he is doing very well. He will play for many years at Barcelona and will be a superstar here. He can improve and he will. His attitude is incredible. He and I are very happy. I’m sure he will be at the World Cup".

"(Gavi) will play for many years at Barcelona and will be a superstar here"

When asked if justice was done with the call-up of Iñigo Martínez to the national team, the German commented that "why should I think it’s unfair? My opinion is that he is playing very well, but it’s not my decision whether he goes or not with the national team. That’s up to the coach, and he is doing very well. He also sees how Iñigo is doing, with his attitude, his mentality, it’s very good for the team".

Regarding the renewal of Frenkie de Jong, Flick responded firmly that "it will depend on the club and him. He has improved a lot after a serious injury, he was out for a long time. He is playing very well, he gives us many options with the ball, possession increases with him. I am very happy to have him".

Lamine Yamal's lack of goals and Balde's present

The blaugrana coach also spoke about the 'drought' of Lamine Yamal in LaLiga and the impact his goal against Benfica could have, downplaying the situation by stating that "I see him the same as always. He has always had confidence with the ball, scoring of course helps a lot. He also provided the assist for the first goal. He is playing very well, his performance is excellent. I don’t think that goal has changed anything".

Finally, regarding Balde's outstanding performance in the second half of the season, Flick stated that his season has been "very good. He has improved a lot. He is at the level of the best left-backs in the world. A fantastic player. And I believe he has a lot of potential, he wants to learn and improve every day. Step by step. That is very good".