Flick demands more Barca ‘fight’ amid injury crisis

Flick demands more Barca ‘fight’ amid injury crisis
FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and Ronald Araujo during training after the reopening of Spotify Camp Nou FC Barcelona Training — Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Nov. 7, 2025. (Reuters)
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Updated 18 sec ago

Flick demands more Barca ‘fight’ amid injury crisis

Flick demands more Barca ‘fight’ amid injury crisis
  • “It’s not an excuse, it’s a fact — we have a lot of injured players. They are huge players, some of our key players,” Flick said
  • “I know, we all know, the players know we have to play much better”

BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick called on his players on Saturday to show more fight while the club battles an injury crisis and struggles to reach their top level.
The Catalan giants drew 3-3 at Club Brugge on Wednesday in the Champions League and are five points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid before facing Celta Vigo on Sunday.
After winning a domestic treble last season Barca have struggled for consistency in Flick’s second term as they try to cope with several absences.
They will be without Raphinha, Pedri, Joan Garcia and Gavi among others at Balaidos, while Flick said Jules Kounde was also a doubt for the game.
“It’s not an excuse, it’s a fact — we have a lot of injured players. They are huge players, some of our key players,” Flick told a news conference.
“I know, we all know, the players know we have to play much better. The important thing is that everyone (gets) back, after two or three matches, they are on a good level and can help us a lot. This is maybe a starting point again.
“Until then, and the match tomorrow is like that, we have to fight. On Wednesday we couldn’t see this fight, that we need. Hopefully tomorrow we will see it.”
Celta Vigo have won their last five games across all competitions and are in a “good mood,” according to Flick.
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal was back to his best against Brugge and the coach said he had stepped up his work to recover from a niggling groin issue.
“He changed his discipline, it’s much better now, he’s really training good,” said Flick.
The 18-year-old has been called up by Spain for upcoming World Cup qualifiers and the coach asked his national team counterpart Luis de la Fuente to take care of Yamal.
In September Yamal aggravated his groin problem while with Spain and he was released from the squad for matches in October because of the same problem.
“He comes back to the best level but it’s not over, we have to take care about this injury, not only us but also the national team,” added Flick.


Abrar’s four wicket haul helps Pakistan skittle South Africa for 143

Abrar’s four wicket haul helps Pakistan skittle South Africa for 143
Updated 23 min 58 sec ago

Abrar’s four wicket haul helps Pakistan skittle South Africa for 143

Abrar’s four wicket haul helps Pakistan skittle South Africa for 143
  • Quinton de Kock led South Africa with 53 off 70 balls after a strong opening stand
  • Pakistan’s spinners triggered a collapse as the visitors lost nine wickets for 56 runs

FAISALABAD: Spinner Abrar Ahmed took a career-best four wicket haul as Pakistan dismissed South Africa for a paltry 143 in the third and final one-day international in Faisalabad on Saturday.

The 27-year-old grabbed 4-27 while fellow spinner Salman Agha (2-18) and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-18) shared wickets as only four batters crossed double figures after South Africa won the toss and batted.

The series is level at 1-1 with Pakistan winning the first game by two wickets and South Africa took the second by eight wickets, both in Faisalabad.

Quinton de Kock followed his hundred in the second match with a top score of 53 off 70 balls with a six and six boundaries while Lhuan-dre Pretorius knocked a 45-ball 39 with a six and four boundaries.

De Kock and Pretorius set the platform with a 72-run opening stand before the spinners hit back for Pakistan as the visitors lost their nine wickets for 56 runs.

Agha dismissed Pretorius and Tony de Zorzi for two in the space of 15 runs before left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz ended all hopes of a big total with the wicket of De Kock in the 25th over.

Abrar jolted the innings by dismissing Rubin Hermann (one), Donovan Ferreira (seven) and Corbin Bosch (nought) in successive overs.

He then ended skipper Matthew Breetzke’s resistence-filled 16 to improve on his previous best of 4-33 which came against Zimbabwe in Harare last year.

Shaheen had Nqabayomzi Peter (16) and Lungi Ngidi (nought) to wrap the innings in the 38th over.