Barcelona coach HansiFlick has confirmed that he will call on the experience of his international players to face the Champions League match against Galatasaray in Istanbul. In several interviews, Flick has warned about the “terrifying” atmosphere that usually prevails at AliSamiYen, and has indicated that his plan is to have an eleven that knows how to handle complicated situations, without excluding young talents.
For defense, Flick has decided to place EricGarcia and JoãoCancelo on the sides, with the defensive center formed by Cubarsí and GerardMartín. Although Eric García was forced to return to the rest area due to discomfort, the coach remains confident in his ability to provide solidity. In midfield, the combination of Rodri and Pedri is presented as the backbone of the team, while up front they rely on ÁngelGómez, FermínLópez and LamineYamal to create opportunities, with GabrielJesús as the last link to finish.
Nine of the eleven proposed are international, which reinforces the idea that Flick is looking for players who have experience in high-level competitions. In addition, the coach has included Shane Kluivert in training, although the young striker returned to the Youth camp, where the first team group is also located in Istanbul.
The club has also sent its president, JoanLaporta, along with the vice president of Marketing, JoanSoler, and the directors XavierPuig, CarmeHortalà and JaumeSantiveri, to accompany the team in the Turkish city. The president is expected to have lunch with the officials of the Turkish club, which indicates the importance of the relationship between both teams before the match.
With Flick's commitment to an experienced eleven and the presence of key international players, Barcelona seeks to overcome the pressure of the stadium and advance in the group stage of the Champions League. The next match, scheduled for the afternoon of October 28, will be decisive in determining whether the experience-based strategy achieves the desired results.