Flick's Barça face Alavés on 31 October after PSG and Real Madrid defeats

Flick backs the project after two defeats

Hansi Flick said on Friday, 30 October, that he remains fully convinced of his squad and of the way Barça play, despite losing their last two matches. The coach spoke ahead of the home game against Deportivo Alavés at Camp Nou on Saturday, 31 October. Barça had won 11 consecutive matches before losing 4-2 away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and 1-2 at home to Real Madrid in LaLiga. Flick said the team may have been tired or not fresh enough, and that the squad must play with more concentration and fewer turnovers.

“There is nothing irreversible. We lost against Real Madrid and nobody likes that, but we have to manage it.”

Joan Laporta, the club president, and Deco, the sporting director, gave Flick private backing before the club made it public. A board note issued on Thursday afternoon reaffirmed full confidence in the first-team squad and coaching staff. Flick called the gesture a good one, while El Periódico noted that the backing came after the defeats rather than in response to fan anger.

Injuries and the search for a centre-back

Flick said five players are unavailable: Jules Koundé, Xavi Espart, Eric García, Andreas Christensen and Dani Olmo, four of them defenders. Only two fit centre-backs, Gerard Martín and Pau Cubarsí, are available for the match. Flick said Frenkie de Jong could cover in central defence, and described him as an outstanding player when fully fit. Flick has spoken with Deco, Bojan and his staff about adding a central defender in the winter market, and La Vanguardia reported that he does not rule out a January signing.

Alejandro Balde has barely featured in Flick's plans, with 16 minutes in the Champions League and 72 in LaLiga this season.

“Balde does not have the confidence he needs to play, the conviction to attack and press high.”

Flick said full-backs are central to Barça's game and that Balde needs confidence to reach his best level. He also said that academy player Ebrima Tunkara is doing good work in training, which opens the possibility of giving him minutes.

Raphinha and the international break

Brazil have called up Raphinha for two friendlies in Singapore during the next international break. Flick said Raphinha, who captains Barça, arrived injured after the previous break, which was not an ideal situation for the club. Flick said he discussed the matter with Deco and that he would be pleased if the club could manage the player's minutes. He added that the decision was not in his hands.

Recovery plan and the coming fixtures

La Vanguardia reported that Flick gave his players two days off at the start of this week, the first such break since the last international window. On Thursday he led a shorter session with plenty of ball work and gym strength exercises, followed by a team meal organised by the captains. The plan is to raise physical loads gradually over the coming days, following individual programmes for each player. Flick linked the lack of freshness to the trip to Seville, where the squad had to spend the night before the Clásico, according to the same report.

Sergi Sureda, a physiotherapist and UAB professor who directs Grup Terapèutic de Catalunya, told La Vanguardia that the Seville incident created uncertainty and psychological activation that fed stress. He said fatigue can reduce the ability to repeat sprints, change direction or keep technical precision. On Tuesday, 3 November, the Champions League returns to Camp Nou with a match against Aston Villa.

Style and the goals conceded

El País counted 11 consecutive wins before the two defeats, nine of them in LaLiga, a record figure according to the paper. The same outlet noted that Barça have drawn only 10 of 130 matches since Flick arrived in 2024. Barça have conceded in 18 European matches in a row, and El País argues that the side's urge to attack quickly leaves it exposed. Flick maintains that a good attack is the best defence, built on high intensity and pressing. The question for Saturday is whether the squad can keep its rhythm while missing five players and two centre-backs.