Flick takes responsibility for Barca injury crisis
Hansi Flick claimed he must take the blame for Barcelona's mounting injury issues, ahead of its clash with Athletic Club in LaLiga this weekend.
Flick's team, which leads the way in LaLiga, heads to Bilbao to take on Athletic and former Blaugrana coach Ernesto Valverde on Sunday (AEDT).
However, it will be without Frenkie de Jong, Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde, who have all sustained hamstring injuries in the past week.
Gavi and Andreas Christensen are also on Barca's list of absentees.
"It happens," Flick said.
"I am not happy about that. I said this after the game. We have to discuss what we can make better. If we're doing some things, we have to analyse it, and make it better.
"It's always my responsibility, no one else. This is what I want to say here now: not medical staff, not fitness staff, no, it's my responsibility. I take care of that.
"If something happens, we speak, which is what I want to do now, what we must do better for the future. It's managing for a team, sometimes you make mistakes, it's not nice, especially in this moment, but we are thinking positive."
Robert Lewandowski, who missed the Copa del Rey clash with Atletico Madrid in midweek with a fractured eye socket, will be fit to feature against Athletic.
Although Barca failed to reach the Copa del Rey final, Flick said he took plenty of encouragement from its performance.
"In the end it wasn't enough, and we have to accept that. But my feeling is that we are at a very high level - and that should give us confidence," the German added.
Madrid's shock 1-0 home loss to Getafe last week left Barca four points clear after 26 matches. Athletic sits ninth.
