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Flick gives updates on Araujo and Olmo fitness, rotations and praises Casado
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has confirmed that Dani Olmo will be back in contention for a starting spot against RCD Mallorca, despite missing the match against Las Palmas due to injury. He does not want to give a return date for Ronald Araujo.
Olmo was on the bench against Las Palmas, but was not used as the Blaugrana looked for the equalizer, while Araujo trained with the team again without restrictions.
“Ronald is doing very well, he is very close, I can't say it is the next game or next week because he has to feel good. He is at a good level, he looks really good. Dani is also back, also for the base.”
With Barcelona facing Mallorca on Tuesday, followed by trips to Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund, Flick was also asked if he was considering changing his squad. It has been noted that pressure is not at the level it was a month ago.
“Yesterday I thought a lot about that, about what I need to change, who needs rest. But today when I see what happened, everyone is right, everyone wants to play and is ready to play, and this is a good sign of the team. That might make it easier, it might make it less easy.”
“In the end we have three away games and it will be tough, but everyone is there, and today I see they are right, the second day after the game. I also see it in the data.”
Flick had an hour-long chat with the players before training on Monday to try to identify what mistakes they had made in their loss in Las Palmas. One player they get back is Marc Casado, who was suspended last week.
“He can really read the opponent's game and knows exactly where to be. Maybe he makes a mistake, he has to stay here in this position, he can read the games well. He also knows exactly what to do with the ball, the right positions. He's doing really great.”