Barcelona manager Hansi Flick spoke to the press on Wednesday to preview his team’s debut in this season’s UEFA Champions League with a League Phase match against Newcastle at St. James’ Park on Thursday night.
Flick was asked by the English press about Marcus Rashford and what he expects from Newcastle, and the coach also praised Raphinha and offered an update on Lamine Yamal’s condition as the teenage superstar will miss Thursday’s clash with a groin injury.
Here’s a roundup of Flick’s best quotes:
Rashford
“You have to look back a little. I’ve followed Marcus since Manchester United. He has speed, one-on-one skills, and finishing. What I’ve seen in the first few weeks has been very good, and he has a little more potential to show. It’s great to have him on the team.”
Lamine Yamal
“I don’t think we should put pressure on him. We have a fantastic medical team. We’ll see how he develops. If he comes back, it’s to be 100 percent. He’s a young player, and we have to take care of him.”
Raphinha
“He’s an important player. He brings dynamism, it’s good to see. I saw how he came on in the second half against Valencia, how he played. It was fantastic.”
Champions League/Newcastle
“I think we have to adapt to the opponent’s style. We haven’t been able to train much, but that’s normal. We’ve talked about tactical things, but we have to start with intensity and confidence. We have to take advantage of the spaces.
“We have a great team, and every team wants to win the Champions League. I have the feeling that at Barça we’re looking for all of these things. We’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”
