FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick stated the club's recent Real Valladolid match complicated his preparation strategy for the upcoming Champions League semifinal second leg against Inter. The FC Barcelona squad earned a comeback win in the La Liga fixture after conceding an early goal.
The German coach made nine changes to the lineup that started the first leg of the semifinal tie earlier in the week. Players like Ansu Fati and Pau Victor were given starting roles as Flick aimed to provide rest for several first-team regulars.
Flick's initial plan involved limiting minutes for certain players before the trip to Milan. He had intended for Pedri and De Jong to play only 45 minutes each in the Real Valladolid game. He also hoped Raphinha and Lamine Yamal would feature for less time.
However, the plan was disrupted when Ivan Sanchez scored for the home side. This forced Flick to bring Raphinha into the game at the start of the second half. Lamine Yamal entered the match in the first half following an injury to Dani Rodriguez.
FC Barcelona ultimately secured the win with Raphinha scoring the equalizer and Fermin Lopez netting the winner. The minutes played by some key players were higher than Flick had hoped, potentially impacting their readiness for the decisive European fixture.
The need for rotation was partly influenced by the club's ongoing injury issues. Defenders Jules Koundé remains sidelined, while Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde are also recovering from injuries. The match did see the return of goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen after a lengthy absence.
Other players who featured prominently in the Real Valladolid game included defenders Héctor Fort, Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen, and Gerard MartÃn, along with midfielders Eric GarcÃa and Gavi, and forward Ferran Torres. Andreas Christensen also recently returned to action in the first leg against Inter. Despite the changes and match difficulty, Flick noted that Araújo, Christensen, and Ter Stegen had good games.
The added workload in La Liga could affect the team's performance in the second leg as FC Barcelona aims to reach the Champions League final.
Speaking on the impact of the match, Hansi Flick commented, "I planned for Pedri and De Jong to play just 45 minutes each. But, I would have also liked Raphinha and Lamine to play fewer minutes. I’m not disappointed in anyone. We made nine changes, they’re young, I believe in them. It wasn’t easy. There were some mistakes, quick transitions, but Araujo and Christensen had good games, as did Ter Stegen."
