Hansi Flick talks Raphinha, Eric, Rodri, Bernal, De Jong, Julian Alvarez ahead of Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona

Hansi Flick talks Raphinha, Eric, Rodri, Bernal, De Jong, Julian Alvarez ahead of Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Barcelona will be eager to strengthen their grip at the top of the La Liga standings when they take on Atletico Madrid tomorrow at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The Blaugrana are currently only two points clear of the Rojiblancos and a defeat could see them lose the top position heading into the international break – something that Hansi Flick & co. will be eager to avoid. Ahead of the trip to the Spanish capital, Flick spoke to the media in his pre-match press conference, providing an update on the injured players among other things. Flick confirms duo’s return Confirming that Barcelona defensive duo Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen are available for the game, the manager said: “Eric could start and both will be in the squad for tomorrow. I think Eric can start, but we’ll see.” Flick then spoke about the injury suffered by Rodri in the win over Aston Villa and whether that could have been avoided by more careful management of minutes, saying: “You can always do things better, but in this case I spoke with the player and we managed his minutes. He’s an experienced player and we talked. “We agreed on these things. I can’t do more. When you see the results, you think you could have done things differently, but that’s in the past now.” As for Frenkie de Jong starting as the replacement for the Spanish international in the lineup, Flick said: “I haven’t decided if he’ll start. It’s good to think about it tonight. We know his quality, but we also know Bernal’s. He did very well in the last match and I’m really enjoying him.” De Jong is pushing to start in Rodri’s absence. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Discussing the qualities that De Jong and Marc Bernal bring to the table, the manager elaborated: “Frenkie can play in several positions, not just as a ‘6’. They’re similar. Frenkie has more experience, but both are confident and decisive on the ball. “Bernal has done very well and knows where he should be. I’m very happy with him, but also that Frenkie is back. We have to find the right starting eleven; we have time to make the decision.” Providing an update on Jules Kounde’s recovery, he added: “We were hoping he’d recover faster, but we have to take it easy. We need to keep an eye on his progress. Hopefully, he’ll be available after the international break.” On run-ins with Atletico Madrid last season Barcelona faced Atletico Madrid six times last season across La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League. Although the Blaugrana came out with a better head-to-head record, winning four of those games, they were eliminated by the Spanish capital club in the Copa del Rey semi-final and the Champions League quarter-final. Flick, though, insisted that the past results were inconsequential heading into tomorrow’s clash, saying: “That’s the past. It’s not relevant to me. What’s important is what happens tomorrow, when we play against a fantastic team. We want to win to be top of the table during the international break. We’ve worked hard and we want to show our strengths.” On the challenge of facing Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano, the Barcelona head coach added: “Every match is important. In LaLiga, we have three or four excellent teams that are close together in the standings. It’s important to win at the Metropolitano; that’s our objective. “We’ll do everything we can to win. There’s still a long way to go in the season. We’ll go there to win, but they’re a fantastic team with a superb coach. It will be a demanding match.” On the squad Flick then discussed the importance of club captain Raphinha who signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2030 earlier this week. “There are no words for Raphinha. It’s the best situation for the club and for Raphinha. I’m grateful for his renewal. He’s a fantastic player, our captain, and very important for our club,” he said. Raphinha signed a new contract earlier this week. (Picture credit: X/@FCBarcelona) The manager also had words of praise for summer signing Anthony Gordon, as he said: “He gives us a lot on the ball. He maintains possession and doesn’t make mistakes. I think he could be a little more selfish in the final third. He’s done very well in the last few matches and has raised his level. I’m happy with what he’s doing.” Flick also highlighted the contribution of youngster Brian Farinas, who has slotted in seamlessly at right-back in the last two games, saying: “He’s never played there (right-back) but physically and technically he’s a great player. Thanks to La Masia , for how they educate the players and the attitude they have. “He has Lamine on his flank and he does very well. He has the level to play this match. Against Aston Villa he played at a top level. He could play this Saturday.” When asked for his thoughts on Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, whom Barcelona chased all summer long but were unable to sign, Flick remarked: “Julian is a fantastic player, but he plays for Atletico and I have to focus on my team.” On being probed further about the pursuit of the Argentine international, the Barcelona coach said: “I don’t talk about players who are on other teams. I focus on my players and I’m very happy with the team’s situation. We have many options in attack. There’s nothing more to say.” Source: Mundo Deportivo