• Protecting young talent and searching for balance

FC Barcelona and head coach Hansi Flick enter a decisive phase of the season, facing major challenges with key players sidelined and a dip in domestic and European results

Ahead of the anticipated La Liga clash against Elche, Flick held a press conference in which he stressed his commitment to supporting young star Lamine Yamal and shielding him from pressure. He noted that the player has been experiencing some fatigue but is showing steady improvement

The coach also addressed the injury crisis and the potential return of several key players

Continued support for Lamine Yamal amid rising pressure

Flick emphasized that managing pressure on young talent is a top priority for Barcelona’s technical staff

Responding to questions about rising star Lamine Yamal, who faces mounting media and fan expectations, Flick said: We talk to Lamine constantly. He’s a fantastic young man, and I will always support him

This comes amid reports that Yamal has been dealing with pubic inflammation and played through pain in the recent El Clásico, raising concerns at the club over his condition

By confirming the player’s improvement, Flick reassures fans that Yamal can continue contributing without jeopardizing his long-term career, stressing the principle of protecting him from overuse

Pedri absence a big blow as key players return gradually

Flick acknowledged the impact of injuries, saying Pedri’s absence is a major loss, calling him the “brain” of Barcelona’s midfield

Pedri is expected to be out until late December due to a muscle tear, forcing tactical adjustments in the midfield

“When we miss key players, it becomes harder to maintain balance,” Flick admitted

Despite the setbacks, he expressed optimism about returning stars, highlighting the readiness of Dani Olmo and the gradual reintegration of Polish veteran Robert Lewandowski, who may feature for limited minutes

Even a short appearance from Lewandowski would provide a valuable attacking boost as Barcelona look to regain scoring efficiency

Lengthy injury list

Barcelona continue to struggle with a long list of absentees affecting form and consistency

Pedri joins a lineup of key injured players including Gavi and Raphinha, as well as goalkeepers Juan García and Marc-André ter Stegen

Midfield and attack adjustments required

Pedri’s absence forces major role changes in midfield

Frenkie de Jong will shift from a defensive midfield role to a more advanced supportive position, while young Marc Casadó is expected to start as holding midfielder, with Marc Bernal unlikely to start due to fitness

In the playmaker position, Dani Olmo has returned from injury but is not yet ready for extended minutes, meaning Fermín López may again start

In the attack, Lewandowski has returned to training but is not ready to lead the line from the start, making Ferran Torres the most likely starter at striker. Torres has a strong record vs Elche, with 3 goal contributions in 3 La Liga matches (2 goals, 1 assist)

On the wings, Lamine Yamal (right) and Marcus Rashford (left) are expected to retain their places, though Rony Bardghji and Drew Fernández are strong options should Flick opt to rotate

Rashford has contributed to at least one goal in five of his last seven La Liga games (1 goal, 4 assists)

Focus on Elche — and moving on from El Clásico

The Elche match on Sunday carries extra weight as Barcelona look to secure three points before a run of difficult home and European fixtures

Barcelona aim to bounce back from their 2-1 El Clásico defeat to Real Madrid and close the five-point gap at the top

Flick firmly shut down discussions about Real Madrid, preferring to focus forward

Real Madrid is in the past. My focus now is only on Barcelona,he said

This reflects the coach’s intention to distance the squad from external noise and focus on internal improvement