´It´s b*******´ – Flick slams reports of internal divisions within Barcelona – Soccer News

Hansi Flick denied rumours of internal divisions at Barcelona, dismissing claims of sporting director Deco pressuring him to play Lamine Yamal after he was allegedly late to training.

Yamal is back in training and will be part of Flick’s squad for Barcelona’s LaLiga match against Girona on Saturday, offering a boost to the injury-hit team.

With Real Madrid not playing until Sunday, Barca have the chance to go top of the LaLiga table, at least for 24 hours, if they come away with three points at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

However, much of the pre-match talk has not been about the game, after reports that Yamal went unpunished for apparently arriving late to training thanks to Deco’s intervention.

“I don’t know where you have got that information from, but at the end, I’m sorry about the choice of words, but it’s totally b*******, okay?!” Flick told a press conference.

“I never, never was asked that. I really appreciate how they [the board] believe in my work. They would never ask me something like this.

“So, I can say it’s b*******! And if someone said this, he’s lying.”

Concentration at 100% pic.twitter.com/E7nlr4SmIJ

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 17, 2025

Barcelona will be without Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Raphinha, Joan Garcia and Marc-Andre ter Stegen for Saturday’s match, while Yamal and Fermin Lopez have been passed fit, but not for a full 90 minutes.

“I cannot change it. We have to find solutions,” Flick said of the injury woes. “We might have to rely on players from La Masia [the academy]. We will see what happens.”

Barcelona are in need of a win after heading into the international break under pressure, having lost consecutive matches to Paris Saint-Germain in Europe and Sevilla in LaLiga, going down 4-1 in the latter.

“It’s about attitude and mentality on the pitch,” Flick added. “We are Barca.

“Our fans want to see us fighting for every situation. Last season we won three titles, but this is a new season. We have to start now with the same attitude, and I think we will fight tomorrow.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Barcelona – Ferran Torres

After leaving Spain’s squad early, Ferran Torres has been passed fit to play this weekend, and he will be key with so many players missing.

He has netted four goals this term, level with Lewandowski, and nobody has had more shots (23) or efforts on target (nine, level with Marcus Rashford) than him.

Did you know sharks can lose and regrow thousands of teeth in their lifetime? pic.twitter.com/H6LdSV0pPl

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 17, 2025

Girona – Cristhian Stuani

Cristhian Stuani has scored five goals in 15 LaLiga matches against Barcelona, scoring in two of his last three matches against the Blaugrana in the top-flight (two goals).

MATCH PREDICTION: BARCELONA WIN

Barcelona have won their last two LaLiga matches against Girona, both since Hansi Flick took charge, after failing to win any of their previous three (D1 L2) – they could now record three consecutive wins against them for the first time in the competition.

And the Blaugrana have won their last four derbies against Catalan sides in LaLiga, their longest winning streak in such derbies since September 2017 (W5).

Girona, meanwhile, have only lost one of their last six away Catalan derbies in the competition (W2 D3), the last against Barcelona (4-1 in March 2025).

Girona have scored points in three of their five LaLiga away games against Barcelona (W1 D2 L2), although they suffered their heaviest defeat in the competition in one of those matches, a 6-1 defeat in February 2018.

Michel’s side ended a nine-match winless streak with their 2-1 win over Valencia but have not won two in a row in the top-flight since January this year (W2).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Barcelona – 73.3%

Draw – 15.3%

Girona – 11.4%