Flick’s solutions to make up for the absence of Lamine Yamal

Hansi Flick lives in the present. And, at the moment, he does not see ten years as a coach at Barça like Pep Guardiola can achieve at Manchester City if he fulfills his contract after renewing until 2027. “Ten years? I have four grandchildren. And they deserve time before they turn 70,” said the 59-year-old coach. For now, this present takes him to Vigo today. To see his pupils play against a growing Celta. For now, his mind is set on helping young people progress. Young people like Lamine Yamal, who this time will stay in Barcelona due to injury. Or young people like Gavi, who after a year of ordeal recovering from his injury and a progressive return, is aiming for the starting eleven today. “Yes, it could be,” the coach acknowledged with a smile, who tested him yesterday in the previous rehearsal.

Flick likes a lot of things about Gavi. His talent, his heart and his involvement. As a midfielder or as a winger. “I asked Gavi and he told me that he can play in any position. That’s a good answer,” Flick explained when asked which role he likes most about Gavi. He didn’t want to get wet. But everything indicates that the German will place Gavi in ​​midfield next to Casadó and behind Pedri. Although he feels fine, the coaching staff remains cautious with Frenkie de Jong.

Despite the numbers that Gavi has to be a starter, the staff is very aware of the via crucis that has lived. “He cannot yet complete the 90 minutes of play. What happened to him was serious,” the club insists. Remembering that the youth player broke into the elite both in Barça and in the national team at the age of 17 and that his meteoric rise did not stop until, at the age of 20, one of his knees broke with the Spanish team in November of last year. He had surgery. He suffered pain and sadness. But on October 20, an acclaimed Gavi returned to grass, its favorite ecosystem. It was in Montjuïc against Sevilla.

“I asked Gavi and he told me that he can play in any position. It’s a good answer,” said Flick.

Since then he has played 21 minutes in four League games and another 27 minutes in the Champions League. Now the doctors consider that this load can be increased and that the youth player can now compete for a maximum of 60 minutes. The idea is that the midfielder reaches his full potential at the end of January 2025.

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Without a doubt, Gavi’s return is the side of the coin for Barça. The cross is the absence of Lamine Yamal. The winger continues to recover on the sidelines of the team from the injury to his right ankle that already prevented him from playing in the last matchday of the League against Real Sociedad before the national team break. Precisely, Anoeta’s challenge and his substitution in the visit to Osasuna are the only two defeats for Barça in the League. “We didn’t lose in Anoeta because Lamine Yamal wasn’t there. The important thing is that he comes back well,” Flick said. Those closest to the footballer indicate that Lamine Yamal will not be able to play against Brest on Tuesday in the Champions League and is a doubt for the match against Las Palmas on November 30.

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Anais Marti Herrero

Instead to play today in Balaídos the casting is open. “There are several options. Raphinha, Olmo, Fermín, Pablo Torre, Pau Víctor…”, said Flick. Will decide today. But everything indicates that Olmo will be the chosen one. Raphinha and Lewandowski, who has already recovered from the lower back discomfort that prevented him from traveling with Poland, will complete the Barça attacking trio.

We did not lose in Anoeta because Lamine Yamal was not there”

Everything in Balaídos, the scene of a maturity test for the leader against Celta, who has scored three consecutive games and is looking for a prestigious victory to get involved in the fight for the European places. The Galician team, which has the presence of two Barça youth players such as Mingueza and Ilaix Moriba, has not been bad at receiving Barça. They have scored in 7 of the last 9 games, almost always with Aspas as the protagonist. The sky blue captain has scored 11 goals in the 19 games he has played against the Blaugrana. Barça is his favorite victim along with Athletic. After the meeting in Balaídos, there will be other good news in Barcelona. Ronald Araújo, new this season, will join training tomorrow.