Barcelona vs Mallorca: Hansi Flick Addresses Squad Emotions, Robert Lewandowski Injury & Raphinha’s Rise

Barcelona Boss Opens Up on Team Morale, Injury Concerns, and Tactical Focus Ahead of Key La Liga Fixture Against Mallorca.

Ahead of Barcelona’s La Liga encounter with RCD Mallorca on April 22, head coach Hansi Flick addressed a wide range of topics in his pre-match press conference. He has spoken about player morale, injury concerns, and some tactical reflections from their thrilling 4-3 win over Celta Vigo.

The coach was particularly candid about recent frustrations among squad members like Ansu Fati and Hector Fort, who have seen limited minutes. Reports had surfaced recently that there were visible signs of frustration from both players during the Celta match.

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— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 22, 2025

While Flick expressed empathy, he also offered a firm perspective, saying:

“I understand the feeling, but not the reaction. It is something that has to be accepted. When they play, we want to see them with the right reaction. This is what is important.”

The backline is working well with the combination of Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Jules Kounde, Inigo Martinez, Ronald Araujo, and now with Gerard Martin in the mix. Hector Fort is a good player, but to get into the mix, he will have to get ahead of a lot of touch competition. The same can be said about Ansu Fati at this point.

Injury Updates and Tactical Adjustments

The German coach also provided updates on key players. Robert Lewandowski, who suffered a hamstring injury during the Celta fixture, is set to miss several games. He will even miss the Copa del Rey final. Talking about it, Flick said:

“We don’t know which game he will be able to return to… We do not want to anticipate the return deadlines.”

Lewandowski is leading the Pichichi race in La Liga and has been extremely crucial for Barcelona throughout this season. Flick has decided to call upon Ferran Torres to start the game against Mallorca in Lewandowski’s place. And Ferran has some big shoes to fill. Flick praised the forward, saying:

“Ferran is very important… He has scored ten goals in the league. We need him until the end of the season.”

He also praised another of his key men in the final third. Raphinha, who scored two goals and provided an assist against Celta has been an absolutely clutch player for the Catalan side. He has helped the team again and again in the middle of intensely stressful games. Talking about Raphinha’s form, Flick said:

“He’s a leader, with this attitude, and we need players like him.”

Flick gave some positive news regarding Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has been sidelined since September last year after sustaining a serious knee injury. Szczesny came in to fill the gap under the bar and he has done a tremendous job. However, Ter Stegen still remains a key player for Barca, so Flick confirmed:

“He is ready, he is prepared… we have to talk to him to decide the moment of his return.”

Learning from Mistakes

Despite the recent win, Flick admitted that defensive lapses—particularly involving Frenkie de Jong—needed addressing. De Jong’s performance has been quite inconsistent this season. He has been key in the midfield one day while dropping the ball on the other. Talking about his performance against Celta, Flick said:

“Sometimes when we have the ball, nobody thinks about losing it… There were four or five situations I was not happy with.”

With the title race heating up, Flick emphasized the importance of mental strength and continued focus from all of his players. The coach called the current stretch “a long road” where “Madrid will also try to achieve its objectives.”

Ansu Fati

Barcelona

Celta Vigo

Ferran Torres

Frenkie de Jong

Hansi Flick

Hector Fort

La Liga

Mallorca

Marc Andre Ter Stegen

Raphinha

Real Madrid

Robert Lewandowski

Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.