Flick talks Lamine, Jesus, Raphinha, Kounde, De Jong, captaincy ahead of Valencia vs Barcelona

FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick addressed several key topics ahead of their upcoming match against Valencia. First, he confirmed that Lamine Yamal, who had not trained with the team earlier, will travel with the squad and could play in the match. Lamine will be fine according to Flick, who mentioned that the player had a knock and was better off training at a slower pace.

In terms of captaincy, Flick revealed that he had decided to appoint Raphinha and Pedri as co-captains, with the rest of the five players chosen by the squad. When asked about Frenkie de Jong's situation, Flick explained that the decision to include him as a captain was influenced by the absence of Ter Stegen and Araujo. Flick expressed his satisfaction with the squad's performance and transfers done during the summer, also confirming that Gabriel Jesus, though not fully fit, could play a few minutes.

The manager praised Raphinha's start, highlighting his mobility and comparing his performance to when he played as a winger. Flick also spoke about Jules Kounde, acknowledging his loss of prominence in the team but praising his professionalism and dedication to returning to his best form. Lastly, Flick emphasized the importance of a strong team atmosphere and emphasized the need to focus on their own performance, especially given the upcoming match at a challenging venue.