Flick: Pedri is still not back; Messi is the best player in the past 10 years or more

Hupu reported on November 21 that Barcelona head coach Flick attended the pre-match press conference against Athletic Bilbao.

What do you think of Athletic Bilbao?

They have qualified for the Champions League this season and are a very good opponent. They have a lot of quality...it's a great opportunity to show how far we can go.

How is Yamal’s health?

He has trained very hard in the past two weeks and I am very satisfied with his recovery. The recovery from injury has had its ups and downs, but I think he's in good shape now.

What does Raphinha’s return mean? How is Rashford doing?

Rashford had a fever yesterday and today. The good news is that Raphinha is back. We'll see if he can play 10 to 15 minutes or more, but it's always good to have him back.

What do you think of the Spanish Football Federation’s statement? They expressed dissatisfaction with Lamin staying at Barcelona.

We did it and that was it. Lamin is our player and we will take good care of him. I think keeping him here is the right decision. This injury requires players to be disciplined and Laming has performed very well over the past two weeks.

Do you think this matter should be resolved at the top level, or does the coaching staff need to communicate?

Now we focus on the next four weeks, nine games. This is our job. I won't pay attention to outside opinions. I just hope he can train with us so I can be happy. That's all.

Do you think playing at Camp Nou is good for the team?

Of course we prefer playing at Camp Nou. On the day of the open training session, when I walked up the steps and stepped onto the pitch, it felt great.

I think this can give us motivation. Here, fans are closer to the stands. We have a good relationship with the Montjuïc fans, but this is a football stadium and the pressure is higher.

Do you think it is a good idea to return to Camp Nou before facing Real Madrid?

We have to play well game by game. The end of May is still a long way away. Like I said last year, we know Real Madrid are a very strong opponent, but so are Villarreal and Atletico. We have to focus on ourselves and give it our all. The fans support us to do this.

How is Pedri's recovery going? Can he come back against Chelsea?

I'm not sure. We have to go step by step and not put any pressure on him. That's not good. He is recovering well and will be back soon. I don't know if he will be back against Chelsea or the next game, but everything is going in the right direction.

Will Joan Garcia make a comeback?

What do you think (speaking to reporters)?

Joan will appear.

Well, he's right.

What do you think of the photos of Messi returning to Camp Nou? Do you want to coach him?

Why not? He's the best player of the last decade or more. I've always admired his skills. But he still has a club contract until 2028, and I have a contract until 2027... I don’t think this is the key to the problem.

How will the team miss De Jong?

See you tomorrow. De Jong, like Pedri, is a player with strong ball control ability and can bring confidence. But we have to manage his playing time appropriately.

Who do you hope will kick off tomorrow before the game?

Wow. I don't know, I have no clue.