German coach Hans Flick held his press conference ahead of the match against Villarreal in La Liga, expressing optimism about his team's ability to achieve a positive result. He emphasized the importance of every game and making the most of the quality players available.

Flick said about the Villarreal match: "Every match is important, but we are playing against a team with its own philosophy, a team that plays directly. They are an amazing team and have developed a lot in recent years, performing excellently."

Flick continued: "It's good to have control and stability in the team. That has been the case in recent matches, with Eric as a defensive midfielder, and Frenkie understands that. He is a great and important player for the team. Having quality and competition within the team helps everyone perform at their best."

Flick added about his lineups: "I think about what the team needs, but we are all human. If someone doesn't play, I have to talk to them. It's important to provide explanations, and the players also ask questions. My door is always open to help them improve. The priority is always the team before the player or the coach."

Flick continued: "Some players can play in more than one position. Casado can play as a full-back, but for me, he is more suited as a defensive or central midfielder. He may not be satisfied with the minutes he gets, but this is Barcelona."

He added about Lewandowski: "He is ready to play and is an option for tomorrow. In the cup, we didn't take any risks. He can play, and this is good news."

Flick confirmed about Pedri: "We need to take care of him and ensure he receives treatment; we can't take any risks. This is the best approach for now. We need him for the upcoming matches against Espanyol and the Super Cup. I believe he will be ready for the game against Espanyol. He is experiencing hamstring issues, and while he can play, the risk is high."

Regarding his future and the possibility of renewing his contract: "A year and a half is a long time for a coach. I am very happy to work at this club, with Deco and all the staff. My team is fantastic, Deco is amazing, and my relationship with him is excellent. I am here for the president, and gaining his trust is important. For me, staying an additional year and a half is suitable, but it also depends on the president's satisfaction. If we play well and achieve success, that is what matters."

And about the year 2025: "It was a wonderful and successful year for me, my team, and the club. I am very happy at Barcelona, but all of that is in the past. We have to keep working to achieve more successes. The titles we won were great, but we must keep going."

Flick concluded the conference by talking about Rafinha's absence from the FIFA lineup, saying: "For me, this is astonishing. I don't usually think much about who is the best, but what FIFA did is a joke. When I saw that Rafinha was not among the best 11 players, I was surprised. He was very important to us last season, contributing directly 22 times in the Champions League, and his impact on the team was incredible. This is not fair to him. After everything he did last season, he deserves to be among the best."