Flick mentions Balde and the recruitment of a striker

FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick shared his thoughts after his team's comprehensive victory over Elche (5-0) in La Liga. He addressed an unusual situation regarding left-back Alejandro Balde while confirming ongoing discussions about signing a new striker.

An unusual situation with Balde

Hansi Flick admitted to having spoken with Alejandro Balde earlier that morning. "I didn't tell him to leave, but there's something with him, I can feel it," he stated. The German coach added: "We'll talk tomorrow" during a scheduled meeting with the player. This comes after Balde was not included in the squad for the trip to Elche, a decision that had raised questions. Flick also praised his team's performance in the match, highlighting Barcelona's technical and collective mastery. "We need to control the ball better; that's what I ask of the team. We kept a clean sheet and scored five goals. I like the way Elche plays football," he commented.

Striker recruitment still on the agenda

Regarding the search for a new striker, Hansi Flick confirmed he would discuss the matter with sporting director Deco after the match. "We'll see what we can do. We're happy to have scored five goals. It gives us confidence for the next matches," he explained. The Catalan club remains in pursuit of a reinforcement in the attacking position, an ongoing issue in recent weeks. The coach also highlighted the collective quality of his squad while emphasizing the need for improvement in training. "We've seen a lot of quality in training sessions. The important thing is to improve these sessions, and if you have that quality, you can demonstrate it in matches. We play as a team, we attack and defend together. We can do better, but there are many things we've really done well," he analyzed.

Xavi Espart shines at left-back

Flick also praised Xavi Espart, a young player from La Masia, who played as a left-back in this match. "He has played with the U19s, he is in good form, his level is very good. I love seeing a La Masia player at such a level. It doesn't matter if he plays on the right, left or in midfield, it's fantastic," he emphasized. This performance confirms the importance placed on young talents in the Barcelona squad. Finally, the coach commended Raphinha's mentality, highlighting his total commitment in training. "He has a great mentality. When you see him giving his all in every session, it's fantastic. He's a good example. He has great intensity," he concluded. Regarding injuries, Flick indicated that Gavi had felt knee pain in the first half, but his condition seemed less serious than feared. An MRI will be carried out to confirm the diagnosis.