BARCELONA'S SECRET WEAPON RETURNS!
Barcelona's Raphinha is back from injury just in time for a crucial run at La Liga, aiming for back-to-back titles and a historic 100-point season.
Barcelona boss Hans Flick is delighted to see Raphinha return just as the team closes in on another La Liga title. Sitting comfortable with an 11-point lead over Real Madrid, Barca can secure back-to-back championships this weekend, provided they overcome Osasuna and Madrid stumble against struggling Espanyol.
Raphinha’s return is a significant boost after he was sidelined by a hamstring injury sustained while playing for Brazil in March. His absence was felt during Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid.
The season still holds plenty of promise, with Barca set to meet Real Madrid in a crucial Clasico on May 10. That match could stamp their title defense if they haven't already wrapped it up this weekend. On top of that, Barcelona remains in the hunt to match the elusive 100-point record for a Spanish league season.
Rapha is a player who always gives us 100 percent, when he's on the pitch or in training,
— Hans Flick
His mentality, his attitude, is always 100 percent and that helps us a lot. This season he has... had to suffer (from injury) so for us it's important to have him back.
— Hans Flick
The coach also emphasized the impact of having Raphinha around in the squad, calling him one of the team’s captains and a positive influence who brings exactly what the team needs.
Meanwhile, the club continues to monitor the progress of teenage talent Lamine Yamal, who’s also sidelined with a hamstring injury. Flick shared encouraging news about the 18-year-old’s recovery and hopes he'll be fit for the World Cup.
He's doing good, so the evolution is good, I think we will see him in the World Cup,
— Hans Flick
He has time, more time, to recover, to come back. And this is what he wants.
— Hans Flick
If Barcelona can win all their remaining five league games, they’ll reach the 100-point benchmark first set by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid side in 2012 and matched by Tito Vilanova’s Barca a year later.
Flick remains focused on each game as it comes, despite the tempting goal.
We are only focussed on the next match, (but) of course we want to win every game between now and the end of the season,
— Hans Flick
For me it would be perfect when we can win every game, but also we have tough opponents. Our job is, in every match, to play on our best level, to learn from the game for the next game and for our training. "So this is our philosophy, our attitude, our mentality.
— Hans Flick
