FC Barcelona hosts Elche this Sunday at Montjuïc (6:30 PM CEST) with Hansi Flick back on the bench. The German served a one-match suspension in the Clásico against Real Madrid after being sent off against Girona, and he won't be the only new face on the Barça bench. Two of the team's injured players will also return to the squad on matchday 11 of LaLiga.

In the press conference prior to the match against the Elche team, Flick confirmed that Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo will be available to, perhaps, add minutes in the second half. Both trained normally during the week and, in the case of the Pole, he managed to shorten his recovery by a couple of weeks.

"I've really liked what I've seen in training the last two days. We're getting Lewy and Olmo back, but we're losing Pedri. That's how it goes... we have to accept it," the Barça coach began by saying. "I don't think about the injured players... if they're not all here, it's not easy to manage. With Dani and Lewy, what I see is that they not only have to train and improve their level, but the others have to as well"

Flick, Surprised by Pedri's Injury

In that regard, the German coach was surprised by the '8's injury. The midfielder went to the Ciutat Esportiva during Tuesday's day off to work in the gym and, finally, a rupture of the distal femoral biceps in his left leg was confirmed, which could leave him out for around a month and a half.

"He was only feeling discomfort, but we checked him and saw the injury. We're missing one of our best players. He gives us possession. But we have to manage. Let's hope Pedri comes back soon," explained Flick, who avoided lamenting the losses too much.

"Things are as they are. We have to accept it. It's November and there's still a long way to go until the end of the season," argued the man from Heidelberg. Against Elche, in addition to Pedri, Ter Stegen, Gavi, Raphinha, Joan García, and Christensen remain in the infirmary, the latter as a precaution. Regarding the Catalan goalkeeper, the coach made it clear that he is facing the final stretch of his recovery.

"We're taking it day by day. Joan is training and he's doing very well, he looks good. He's on the right track, but we mustn't put pressure on him and we have to continue in that vein," the Barça coach pointed out. He also made it clear that both Lewandowski and Olmo will be adding minutes depending on their performance. Ferran Torres and Fermín López, for now, will continue in the starting XI.

Hansi Flick Reiterates His 'Protection' of Lamine Yamal

On the other hand, Hansi Flick was also asked about the physical condition of Lamine Yamal. The '10' did not have a good afternoon against Real Madrid and the coach did not hesitate to protect him from criticism. 

"I just spoke with him and he's fine. Some days, he has discomfort. But he is progressing well," he said regarding the pubalgia that has been affecting the performance of the player from Mataró.

While he declined to talk about the Clásico in particular, Flick pointed out some key areas for improvement so that Lamine can return to his best form. So far, the winger has 3 goals and 5 assists in 8 games.

"I think the way to get back to your best level is to regain your usual position. He can move inside, outside... he's a different player and can move in different positions. But for him, the important thing is to touch the ball, it's his strong point. That's when he creates," he argued.

"We always talk to Lamine. We do it normally. We are sincere. I am always going to protect and support him. He is fantastic. Very young"

The defeat in the Clásico and the virtues of Elche

Although Flick dismissed talking about Barça's performance in the Clásico because it was "water under the bridge," he did open up about how he approached the match at the Bernabéu. "I don't want to look back. It's not the best position to be up there, behind some glass, and not on the bench because I'm suspended. I have to work on myself," the coach explained regarding his expulsion against Girona.

And, with respect to Elche, he took the opportunity to praise the work done by Eder Sarabia's team. The 'franjiverde' team has 3 wins, 5 draws and only 2 losses in their return to LaLiga, remaining for now in the first half of the standings.

"It's a different match, I like Elche, how they play... They are a unit that plays as a team to find solutions, to spread out... we have to stick to our match plan," said the coach. Barça comes to matchday 11 with 22 points, 5 less than Real Madrid (27). Elche, meanwhile, has 14 points and occupies eighth place in the table.