Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has promised that the development of Lamine Yamal will be treated 'correctly' in the run -up to their second La Liga collision with Levante. The German coach could not confirm whether Frenkie de Jong or Robert Lewandowski would be on the field.
That was also the case for Gerard Martin, who still has to be registered. Barcelona hopes to get both the defender and the Wojciech Szczesny in their team, but Flick no longer had updates on this issue.
“I hope he is registered for tomorrow. Of course I spoke to him, but we will see what will happen tomorrow.”
Younger Roony Bardghji is not available, as confirmed by Flick, because he will play with Barca Atletic on Friday in a friendly game. However, the German coach had positive words for Bardghji.
“He will not be registered for tomorrow. They will train a lot, and this mentality, the attitude, he has the same as all players, it is fantastic. So he helps us a lot to improve the quality of the team. I can say this to Rooon, but also to all young players training with the team, they are doing really well.”
“But they also have to play, so I think they will play 45-60 minutes. And then we will take one or two players to Levante tomorrow. And hopefully we will change something next week, and we can register every player.”
Robert Lewandowski has recovered from a muscle injury for the past two weeks and is a touch and go call for the game. He missed their season opener against RCD Mallorca.
“We will take him if we can. Of course we will think about how the game goes. But as number nine we have options. We have Ferran, who scored a goal, and this is the best argument to keep playing. But we will try to record Lewandowski.”
In the meantime, De Jong's wife is birth to their second child this week, and on Friday the Dutchman only trained instead of the group.
“You know that I don't speak much about these things. Normally Frenkie is always ready to go on the field. But I don't want to talk about that.”
“Yes, Gavi, Casado. They can also play this position,” he noted about possible replacements.
Lamine Yamal has become a magnet for criticism in sections of the Spanish media in the summer, and after 'crowning himself' during the celebration of his goal last week, he was re -igrated for his attitude. Flick promised to help the teenage super star, but also noted that he had seen nothing but professionalism of him.
“I don't care what other people say about my team. Of course he is 18. But he is also a fantastic player. I will help him, I will help him grow in the right way. But what I see here, his behavior, is fantastic.”
On new signing Marcus Rashford, Flick predicted a good year of the loan of Manchester United.
“Of course he gives us a little more options. He is more familiar with the 11 -position (left wing), but his strengths he has, his first touch, his speed, his dribbling, he is really useful for our game. I think we can enjoy a fantastic Marcus Rashford this season.”
And had little worries that Barcelona is hungry this season. He was asked about the theory of Pep Guardiola about having a 'full belly' after winning.
“No. I think it is a bit different between Pep and I. I think he is at a different level. It is at a totally different level. For me I try to achieve some more victories.”