Flick Makes Two Big Calls

FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will make two big calls when the Catalans travel to Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday.

Against an outfit that took Barca’s bitter rival Real Madrid to the edge a few weeks back, Flick said that he expects “a good game, a good Celta” at his prematch press conference.

“It’s always important to start well after the international break and this is our goal,” Flick stated.

“We have some limitations, such as Lamine who is not there. We have quality with players who can vary their position. It’s always the same, we look at what we need and design our game plan. I hope we do well tomorrow.”

As Flick implied, Lamine is out injured with a muscle overload. There were rumors he could start against Celta, but his German coach has gone with a common sense approach and decided not to involve the 17-year-old.

Furthermore, Flick doesn’t believe that there is an overdependence on the prodigy, with Barca only losing in the league this season when he hasn’t been involved or started – away at Osasuna in September and again on the road Real Sociedad last time out.

“Against Real Sociedad we didn’t play well and this is the reason for the result, not because Lamine didn’t play. He’s very important for us, but we can adapt with other players. He won’t be able to play tomorrow, we’ll see when he’ll be ready. The important thing is that when he returns he is one hundred percent,” Flick insisted.

Flicks says that there are “several options” to replace Lamine.

“It could be Rapha [Raphinha], Fermin [Lopez], Pau Victor, Pablo Torre, Dani Olmo…” he suggested.

With that in mind, Flick will indeed choose Raphinha as Lamine’s stand-in on the right with Dani Olmo taking the Brazilian’s berth on the other flank.

Robert Lewandowski completes the front line, and there is also a major change in midfield.

It entails Gavi getting his first start this season, with Flick saying “he’s ready to play the 90 minutes”.

The boisterous Andalusian starts alongside best friend Pedri in the more attacking midfield positions, with pivot Marc Casado behind them.

As for the defense, it is pretty much the same look as usual with Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez and Gerard Martin instead of Alejandro Balde protecting Inaki Pena’s goal.

FC Barcelona First XI Vs. Celta Vigo: Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Inigo, Martin; Casado, Pedri, Gavi; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Olmo