Barcelona coach Hansi Flick stresses the right mindset against Albacete in Copa del Rey

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has emphasized that his team must approach Tuesday’s match at the Carlos Belmonte with the right attitude to beat Albacete and secure a place in the Copa del Rey semifinals.

Flick reminded that Albacete recently eliminated Celta and Real Madrid from the competition, so “they have nothing to lose against Barça,” and warned that his team must keep this in mind.

The German coach also highlighted that he wants to use the match to manage his players’ minutes, but first and foremost, the tie must be settled. “It’s about having the right mentality, the right attitude, and how we start the game. We have a lot of quality in our squad, but tomorrow we need to win the duels,” he said from the Joan Gamper Sports City.

Flick expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance in their last LaLiga match at Elche (1-3), although he admitted they missed several scoring opportunities. He hopes to see continued progress against Albacete. “We aim for progression. Step by step we’ve been improving our level, and now we are in a very good position,” he noted.

Raphinha out – options for the left wing

Barça will be without Raphael Dias ‘Raphinha’, sidelined due to an adductor overload. Flick lamented the physical issues that one of the team’s most influential players has faced this season: “Rapha is an important player, and this is not an ideal situation. We need all our players available during this crucial phase of the season.”

Raphinha’s spot on the left wing could be taken by Marcus Rashford, who scored again against Elche and currently has 10 goals and 12 assists this season. Flick highlighted his potential and his ability to contribute more with his speed and technique: “I’m delighted to have him in the squad, and I hope to see even more from him.”

Ter Stegen update

Finally, Flick addressed goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, recently loaned to Girona, who has suffered another injury. “I just found out and haven’t spoken with Marc or Deco about it yet. We feel very sorry for him. We’ll wait for the test results,” he concluded.