In this week's league match, Barcelona will challenge Villarreal on the road. In the pre-match conference, manager Frick answered reporters' questions about the team's recent situation and the upcoming match.
Talking about the midweek Champions League loss against Monaco, Frick said that the team has done a thorough analysis and saw the positives in the performance in Monaco. Despite the loss, the team must stick to the same tactical ideas and face every next game with a positive attitude. He emphasized that he hopes the team can maintain the same intensity and show the same fighting spirit as when they played with ten men against Monaco.
On the issue of physical exertion, Frick is not worried. He said that the beginning of the season had anticipated various challenges, including an intensive schedule. The team has excellent team doctors and means of recovery to ensure that the players are in top form for every game. He singled out Kubasi and Pedri, two players who received special care on the day to help them recover as quickly as possible.
In terms of player injuries, Frick revealed that both Casado and Pedri are close to making their comebacks and are expected to make their debuts in the upcoming matches. He is optimistic about the return of both players and expects them to be at 100%.
Regarding the team's excellent start to the season, Frick attributed it to the players' positive mentality and desire to win. He emphasized that the team has shown excellent overall strength in the first three matches, and despite losing to Monaco in the Champions League, the team still showed a tenacious defense with ten men. He encouraged the players to continue to maintain their confidence and believe that they will be able to perform well again in the coming matches.
Additionally, Frick addressed the issue of Eric Garcia's position. He said that he has communicated with the player himself and Garcia is open to playing in different positions. In training, Garcia has shown the ability to adapt in different positions, so the coaching team will make the best choice according to the needs of the game.
Frick expressed his satisfaction with the adequacy of the current lineup to compete in all tournaments. He believes that the team has an excellent squad and has proved it. Despite the current absence of some players due to injuries, he believes that the team is still strong enough to face the next challenges. He emphasized that the most important thing now is to focus on the players who are able to play and help them prepare for the game.
Finally, when talking about Fathi's comeback performance, Flick expressed his expectation. He believes that Fathi needs some time to adapt to the rhythm of the game after coming back from injury, but believes that he will soon get back to his best form and bring more help to the team. At the same time, he also expressed his understanding of Ter Stegen's mistakes in the last game and encouraged him to learn from his mistakes and continue to contribute to the team.
