Barcelona prepare to face Albacete in the Copa del Rey tonight, with coach Hansi Flick warning that cup football leaves no room for complacency.
Speaking ahead of the tie, the Barcelona head coach stressed that knockout matches can quickly turn if standards drop. “Copa del Rey games are like this,” Flick said. “That’s why we like them. Sometimes the results are unpredictable. The opponent has nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
Barcelona come into the match on the back of a league win over Elche, but Flick made it clear that past results would count for nothing. “What matters is how we start, with the right mentality,” he explained. “We must win our duels and be ready from the first minute. We don’t aim for perfection, we aim for progress.”
Flick also addressed Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s situation, confirming the goalkeeper was being monitored after a recent issue. “I feel bad for him,” Flick said. “We have to wait for the tests and then we will see. The most important thing is his health.”
On Raphinha, Flick admitted he was frustrated not to have the winger fully available. “He’s a very important player for us,” he said. “At this stage of the season we need everyone. When a player can’t play, it’s never good.”
The German coach urged patience with Gavi, who continues his return after a long injury lay-off. “Step by step,” Flick said. “He has a long career ahead of him. The key is to stay calm and build his fitness gradually. We take care of him.”
Flick also praised Alejandro Balde’s development. “What he does is excellent,” he said. “He’s performing at a very high level, but he still has room to improve. That’s what we are working on.”
With rotation expected, Flick underlined the importance of the full squad. “We have a starting eleven, but the players who come on are just as important,” he said. “Everyone must be ready when their moment arrives.”
