Flick reveals the extent of Gavi's injury and heaps praise on Barcelona star
And what did he ask of Baldé
Hansi Flick was satisfied with Barcelona's start to the Spanish league after a comprehensive 5-0 win over Elche, but the German head coach stressed that the big result masks several areas his side still need to work on in the coming weeks.
Speaking after the match, as reported by Spanish newspaper "Sport", Flick called it a perfect start in terms of the scoreline. Five goals in his first league outing was a very good launch, he said, though he insisted his team have far more to give.
He said: "Today I saw a lot of things that we still have to improve significantly, but there are also many things that we do very well."
The German coach reserved praise for Barcelona's academy graduates and singled out Xavi Espart, who showed a clear personality and real comfort on the ball.
He said: "It is wonderful to see Xavi and the players at La Masia at this level. It does not matter where he plays, he knows what to do with the ball."
Gavi provided the one worry on a night of celebration. The midfielder was forced off with a problem in his knee, though Flick moved to calm the fears over the injury.
"The initial indicators look better than expected," he explained, adding: "It looks better than it seemed at first. We have to wait until the tests are carried out, but it looks much better than we expected."
Flick also settled the debate over Alejandro Baldé's future. The full-back's absence from the squad against Elche had sparked talk of a possible exit, but the coach insisted flatly that he had not asked the player to leave the club.
His conversation with Baldé, he explained, came after he sensed on the morning of the match that the player was in an unusual state. He advised him to take some time to gather his thoughts before they resumed the talk.
Real progress, Flick stressed, has to start on the training ground. The quality the players show daily is the foundation for carrying performances into matches, he argued, before delivering a clear message about collective effort. "It is very important now that we play as one team, and that we defend together and attack together," he said.
The transfer market also featured in Flick's remarks. Asked about the possibility of a new striker arriving to bolster the front line, he confirmed there were discussions with Deco but refused to get ahead of events or reveal details. The talks will continue over the coming days, he said, and Barcelona will wait to see how things develop.
