Flick opens up on Lewandowski’s exit and Barça’s future: “It’s been a privilege”
“I won all my titles with him. It’s been a privilege. He’s a role model for the younger players. We’ll manage, we’ll restructure the team,” the coach said.
Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s head coach, spoke Saturday in his pre‑match press conference ahead of Sunday’s clash with Betis. Front and center: Robert Lewandowski’s impending farewell.
If Barça wins, they’ll make history — no team has ever finished a LaLiga season winning every home match.
“You always need goals to chase, and this is one of them,” Flick said. “We’re facing a fantastic team that’s been stable for years. It won’t be easy, but our mindset is good.”
Lewandowski’s goodbye
Asked how he handled Lewandowski’s decision to leave, Flick didn’t hide his admiration. “The conversation went well. Every title I’ve won has been with him. It’s been a privilege to coach him,” he said. “He’s an incredible professional — always at the highest level, always taking care of his body. I’ll never forget him. He’s a model for young players.”
Flick added that the move could benefit both sides: “It’s good for him, and maybe good for the club too because it lets us restructure the team. He told the locker room himself. Everyone knows what kind of player he is.”
Lewandowski will start Sunday’s match. “He deserves it,” Flick said. “I don’t know what will happen next season. We’ll look at the market — his replacement isn’t lined up yet. We have time.”
Injury updates
Flick confirmed Frenkie de Jong won’t play. “He told me he wasn’t feeling right, so we decided he won’t be available.”
As for Marcus Rashford: “We’ll have to wait. He might get a few minutes, but he won’t start.”
The lineup will differ from the one used midweek in Vitoria.
Life after Lewandowski
“What does Barça lose without him?” Flick repeated. “It won’t be easy to find a player at his level. He’s a great guy and a spectacular professional. We’ll miss him, but we’ll manage. We’ll rebuild.”
On Lewandowski’s legacy: “If you watch how he trains, how he pushes to stay at the top… it’s been a privilege. In tough moments, he was always there. I won’t forget that. Teams evolve — that’s life.”
Other departures?
“I don’t think so,” Flick said when asked if anyone else might be playing their final match. “In soccer anything is possible, but I don’t expect more farewells tomorrow.”
Andreas Christensen is expected to play: “That’s the plan. He’ll get minutes.”
Champions League ambitions
Sunday marks 20 years since Barça’s 2006 Champions League final win in Paris. Flick kept the focus on the present. “We haven’t reached our best level in the Champions League yet. That’s our goal. It’s not easy, but it’s always possible.”
On whether he wanted Lewandowski to stay
“No. The decision has already been made.”
Keeping the locker room united
“I treat my players with respect, and I expect the same from them,” Flick said. “We have to play as a team. Honesty is key — when something needs to be said, say it. I try to be honest with them. The team comes first. What’s good for the team is good for me, even if I have to step back sometimes.”
He pointed again to Lewandowski as the model: “If you train at 60–70%, you won’t perform at your best. His professionalism sets the standard.”
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