Flick: No excuses due to fixture congestion, and this is Raphinha's situation

Hans Flick, the manager of FC Barcelona, has expressed great confidence in his players despite the pressure of the busy fixture schedule, emphasizing the need to accept the current situation and focus on delivering the best possible performance. This was stated during the press conference he held ahead of the match against Real Betis.

Flick spoke about the pressure of matches: "We find ourselves in this situation every season. I know things are different in other countries, but this is the reality for us. We have experienced many situations over the past two seasons that made us question what is happening, and I remember having to return by bus from Valencia after our flight was canceled, even though we were set to play just two days later."

He added: "What I tell the team is that there are no excuses, this is the situation, and all we can do is focus on our way of playing. I am 100% convinced of my team, and the quality we currently have is amazing. What the players are showing is what I want to see, which is the way we want to play football. We have the ability to develop and reach the best possible level, and we cannot change the situation, but we must accept it."

Regarding the possibility of Dani Olmo or Fermín López participating in midfield, he clarified: "Fermín can also play in the number 9 striker position, but it depends on where he starts from and how he enters the penalty area. We can see that in the second goal against Galatasaray; this is our way and style, which is to attack from outside the penalty area, and that is very important."

He continued: "These two players are amazing in this position, and at this level, Dani is a very important player, as he is very connected with the team when we defend, and the same applies to Fermín, who also has the confidence needed to score goals. Having the option to choose between them is fantastic."

Flick spoke about Gavi, saying: "He didn't join the national team squad and was a bit sad about that. We noticed this during training in the international break, but he trained very well. He is a very professional player and wants to become better every day."

He confirmed: "Gavi has a very high level of sharpness and focus, and he gives everything he has for the team and the club. We need players with this character; he is a top-class player when he reaches his best levels, and he is close to being 100% fit, which makes him a great option for us, including for tomorrow's match."

Regarding Abdel Samad Zalzouli, the Real Betis player, he said: "He is a wonderful player, we have a great team, but what I see from him impresses me, I love the way he plays, his confidence in one-on-one situations, and the goal he scored against FC Porto was amazing. All I can say is that he is a wonderful player, I don't want to talk too much about players from other teams, but his level is very good."

Barcelona's coach touched on the possibility of using Frenkie de Jong in the centre-back position, explaining: "We haven't trained with him much in this position, but he has participated in five-a-side matches, where he plays a more defensive role. I see in training that he is very focused and 100% convinced of his desire to show how good he is, and this is a very good situation."

Regarding Alejandro Baldé's situation, Flick said: "Things are not easy for him at the moment, but he is training, and that is the first thing he needs to do. He is also training very well; we have Espart and João in this position, both of whom are top-class players and are performing at a high level."

Regarding the possibility of deploying Dani Olmo in the striker position, he added: "We need to find solutions, and that's what we did. For me, Dani is an amazing player, and on a personal level, he combines his skills as a player with his personality, and I really appreciate what I see from him, and he has proven that on the pitch."

He explained: "He has developed a lot over the past six months, and we know he is a great player who gives us a lot. We know he can play in the number 9 striker position, and it is not easy, but he has proven his ability to do so on many occasions, both with us and with the national team."

Regarding the upcoming matches, Flick stressed that his focus is on the next encounter, saying: "We are only focusing on the next match, and I am not preoccupied at the moment with what will happen after tomorrow's game. We focus on what we can do and on delivering our best performance in every match."

Regarding the match against Real Betis and the speculation surrounding the matches against Paris Saint-Germain and the clásico, he said: "The most important thing is to win against Real Betis tomorrow. The team has great confidence as they have won all their home matches, and they have achieved very good results in the UEFA Champions League, holding a good position in LaLiga and the Champions League."

Regarding Lamine Yamal, he explained: "Lamine is an exceptional player, and I know we need to achieve a balance in the number of minutes he participates in, but the most important thing for him is to enjoy playing football, and that is what is happening right now, and I do not want to disrupt this situation."

Flick returned to talk about Frenkie de Jong, confirming his happiness at his return, saying: "Everyone knows that De Jong is a top-class player. I am very happy with his return and availability to participate, as he gives us a new option. We have to monitor his development, and everything seems to be fine, even during training. I believe he is ready to participate for a few minutes."

Xavi addressed Raphinha's situation, saying: "If you ask him, he will say he is ready, but for me, we have to take it step by step. He trained yesterday with the team and performed well, but we have many matches over the coming days and weeks, and we will have to adapt to the situation. The positive thing is that he is available, as is Frenkie."