Flick: "Fariñas and De Jong are willing to help the team"
According to Mundodeportivo.
Why this matters
The game between Barcelona and Deportivo Alavés is crucial for regaining Barcelona's confidence in La Liga, especially after two consecutive defeats that affected the team's morale. The pressure to regain the lead, now in the hands of Atlético de Madrid, makes this clash a vital opportunity for the Blaugrana to bounce back and reaffirm their position in the table.
Main conclusions
- Flick: "Fariñas and De Jong are willing to help the team."
- Hansi Flick highlighted the importance of Barcelona-Alavés, stressing that Fariñas and Frenkie de Jong are ready to help the team on a night when the Blaugrana are looking to react to recent defeats and regain the lead lost to Atlético.
- Flick: "Fariñas and De Jong are willing to help the team."
Hansi Flick highlighted the relevance of tonight's game against Deportivo Alavés (9pm) for a Barcelona team that arrives under pressure due to recent results. After falling to Paris Saint-Germain 4-2 and Real Madrid 1-2, the Blaugrana saw Atlético de Madrid take over, albeit provisionally, the lead in LaLiga with another point, after the 0-2 victory against Levante. The duel with Alavés therefore appears as an immediate opportunity to respond and reposition at the top of the table.
In the preview, the German coach highlighted that he wants to see an intense and focused team from the first minute and left a note of confidence regarding two members of the squad: Fariñas and Frenkie de Jong. According to Flick, both “are willing to help the team”, an indication that the coach is counting on their solutions at a time when the bench's rotation and responses can be decisive in turning the less positive cycle around. Without going into details about the use of each one, the message was clear: everyone must be ready to contribute.
The competitive context leaves no room for distractions. The succession of high-level games, with European trips and classics in between, has put Barcelona's consistency to the test. The defeat in Paris and the defeat in the classic undermined the positive series that the team had been building, but Flick insists on the need to transform frustration into competitive energy. Against Alavés, we expect Barça to be assertive with the ball and more solid in moments of defensive transition, aspects that were exploited by the last opponents.
Alavés, for their part, arrives in Barcelona motivated to make life difficult for the title candidate. Without the pressure of favoritism, the Basque team will tend to look for a compact block, quick exits and set pieces to threaten the culé goal. It's up to Barcelona to set the pace, accelerate through the corridors and, above all, be effective in the final third — one of the points that was lacking in previous matches, where the opportunities created did not translate into enough goals to score.
With Atlético momentarily at the top of the table, the margin for error narrows and each point gains additional weight in the fight for the title. For Flick, tonight's meeting is less about names and more about collective response: recovering identity, getting back in charge of the game and capitalizing on the public's support to get back on the path to victory. The statement that Fariñas and De Jong are ready to help fits into this call for group unity and internal competitiveness. Now, it's up to the pitch to dictate whether the reaction is immediate.
What happens next
With Hansi Flick emphasizing the need for an immediate response, Barcelona are expected to enter the field with an aggressive and focused mentality. The use of players like Fariñas and Frenkie de Jong could be decisive, as the depth of the squad will be tested at a critical moment of the season, where every point counts for the future in La Liga.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the game between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Alavés?
The game is scheduled for 9pm.
How is the La Liga standings after the last round?
Atlético de Madrid took the provisional lead with another point after beating Levante.
What were FC Barcelona's recent results?
Barcelona lost to Paris Saint‑Germain 4-2 and to Real Madrid 1-2.
What did Hansi Flick say about Fariñas and Frenkie de Jong?
Flick stated that both are willing to
help the team.
How important is the game against Deportivo Alavés for Barcelona?
It is an immediate opportunity to respond and reposition at the top of the rankings.