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Flick Dismisses Arbeloa’s Criticism: Barcelona Focused on Winning Every Match
Hansi Flick refused to engage with Álvaro Arbeloa‘s comments, stating he would not expend energy responding. The Barcelona manager prioritizes internal focus over external noise, particularly regarding accusations about refereeing standards in Spanish football.
“Nothing. I won’t waste my energy on that. It’s his point of view, and I’m focusing on my team,” Flick said during his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s Catalan derby against Espanyol. “I’m not interested in that; it’s the nature of the game. There’s a lot of noise, but I’ve told the squad to focus on ourselves and not worry about Real Madrid.”
Arbeloa had cited league statistics since 2000, arguing that Barcelona received fewer red cards than Real Madrid in La Liga, though European competition numbers remained more balanced. The former Real Madrid defender maintained his stance on historical refereeing patterns in Spanish football, stating he would not alter his perspective.
Squad Rotation Strategy for Espanyol Clash
With Barcelona leading La Liga on 76 points, six clear of Real Madrid, Flick emphasized the importance of managing player workloads. Espanyol sit tenth with 38 points, presenting an opportunity for tactical adjustments.
“Of course, we must manage playing time as usual. We have great quality in the squad, and whoever plays tomorrow will put in a fantastic performance,” Flick explained.
Regarding Lamine Yamal, he remained non-committal: “It’s always good for him to start, but we’ll see; I haven’t decided yet—we’ll wait until tomorrow.” Gavi emerged as a strong candidate for the starting lineup, though Flick had not finalized whether the youngster would complete the full 90 minutes.
The return of Frenkie de Jong provides additional depth. “I’m happy Frenkie de Jong is back, but we’ll have to wait and see. He felt fine in training and will be on the bench,” Flick noted.
Champions League Priority Over La Liga
When asked about the relative importance of La Liga and the Champions League, Flick made Barcelona’s ambitions explicit: “The league qualifies you for the Champions League, but every manager, player and fan dreams of winning the competition, and that’s our focus.”
He elaborated: “In every match, you can see the team is more motivated in the Champions League, which is the competition we want to win. We have to do our job in La Liga, but the most important thing is to win the Champions League; that is the goal of the players and the club.”
Concerns about distraction from Barcelona’s Champions League return leg against Atlético Madrid were dismissed. “I’m confident, and the players have shown excellent focus in training,” Flick stated.
Read also: Barcelona vs RCD Espanyol Predictions: Odds and betting tips for La Liga 2025/26 Match – 11.04.2026
UEFA Protest Over Atlético Madrid Refereeing
Barcelona lodged an official complaint with UEFA regarding refereeing standards during their 2–0 defeat to Atlético Madrid. Flick acknowledged the protest while emphasizing systemic issues.
“I don’t know the outcome of the protest, but for me and the team, it’s good that the club is backing us, because what happened was unfair. A mistake can happen once, but not twice at this level.”
Flick criticized the video assistant referees for failing to intervene when decisions went against Barcelona. “There are many things we can improve on. It’s true that we didn’t play our best game and made mistakes, but they had an impact on the result,” he concluded.
On Robert Lewandowski‘s contract situation, Flick deflected: “I’ve answered this before, and I always say the same: now is not the time to discuss it. We have a big goal, and every player must stay focused and give their best.”
Barcelona’s focus remains singular: secure La Liga points while maintaining momentum toward Champions League glory. Follow all developments with TipsGG’s comprehensive coverage of Spanish football’s elite competition.