Barcelona manager Hansi Flick addresses high line fears against Bayern Munich and Frenkie de Jong injury

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has not revealed whether he will be maintaining the very high line his side have been using against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night, The Blaugrana have been pressing as high as the halfway line at times in La Liga, and were caught out by it against Sevilla, but it has been a key feature of their improvement this season.

The big question that most people are asking is whether that line is sustainable against teams like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, who have the weapons and pace in behind to beat an offside trap.

“Well, I think you have asked me many things. If I say too much, I will give you an idea about how we want to approach the game. There are clear things that the team has to do, and we have to be certain about those things. Not everything turns out 100% perfect but we do try to improve in each game. Pressing high will be important, but defending will also be important when the time comes.

Flick confirmed that Frenkie de Jong would be available again, having missed out on the match against Sevilla, with only Eric Garcia and Marc Bernal absent through injury. There had been talk that de Jong did not get on in the second half as a deliberate punishment from Flick.

Many have been positioning this week as a litmus test of Barcelona’s quality, with El Clasico following on Saturday after the Bayern match.

“We are prepared for the match against Bayern tomorrow. The matches can be different and many things can happen, as we saw against Monaco, they can evolve towards different paths. During this season it has been very good for us to focus game by game. We are feeling good. Bayern is an excellent team and everyone wants to face the best.”

“Each game has its special demands and ever one is prepared differently. We meet with the players, we talk to them… It’s not easy because there isn’t much time. The day after is recovery, but today there has already been a lot of intensity,” he detailed regarding their preparation, and whether there had been any changes.

"Yes, our plan was for him to play on Sunday against Sevilla. He didn't feel completely well, but except for Eric, everyone is ready and I'm happy to have them all available."

Hansi Flick on Frenkie de Jong missing out against #SevillaFC. #FCBarcelona #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/93e4yxS8O2

— Football España (@footballespana_) October 22, 2024

There have also been reports this week that Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and La Liga are closing in on the relevant permissions to host their December league clash in Miami in the USA, rather than at Montjuic.

“I am a person who lives in the present. I don’t know what decision will be made but I am focused on the game against Bayern Munich,” Flick said, ducking a potentially awkward issue for him.

Flick: "The last games against Bayern? The past is not worth anything. It's about the here and now. We cannot change what happened in the past, but we can change what is yet to be done."

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 22, 2024

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