Barcelona are gearing up for a tricky La Liga clash against Valencia, but the build-up has been dominated by injuries and stadium talk rather than tactics. With Lamine Yamal ruled out and doubts over several other key players, head coach Hansi Flick faced the media to give his take on the challenges ahead.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said the Spanish team should take better care of players after forward Lamine Yamal suffered a groin injury while on international duty.

Barcelona start their Champions League campaign with a trip to Newcastle on Thursday and despite playing for Spain twice during the international break, Lamine Yamal is a doubt

The 18-year-old played 79 and 73 minutes in Spain's wins over Bulgaria and Turkey respectively in the international break.

© Rafa Babot & Alex Caparros/Getty Images Lamine Yamal (L) and Hansi Flick (R), Head Coach of FC Barcelona.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick will be in the dugout for his team’s Champions League opening game at Newcastle next week after UEFA eased his punishment for misconduct.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has slammed Spain’s handling of Lamine Yamal after confirming the winger will miss his side’s La Liga clash with Valencia at Camp Nou on Sunday. The German says Spain were aware that Yamal was already nursing an injury before deciding to start the teenager in both their World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Turkey this week.

Barcelona are preparing to welcome former midfielder Thiago Alcántara back to a role in Hansi Flick’s coaching staff, a report has revealed.

Barcelona's coach, Hansi Flick, gave a press conference this Saturday (13), in which he expressed great disappointment with the Spanish national team, after the confirmation of Lamine Yamal's injury.

The Spanish champions dropped points for the first time this season at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday night, when goalkeeper Joan Garcia was their best player in a 1-1 draw. After the match, Flick locked his players in the dressing room, holding a team meeting in which he made his displeasure known.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick caused quite the stir when he said a couple of weeks ago that “egos kill success” and that his Barça team needed to get back to what they were last season, when the boss felt they played as “one unit”.