Flick confirms Barcelona changes for Sevilla clash and praises Raphinha’s pressing

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick says he will make changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s La Liga meeting with Sevilla, while confirming that Pau Cubarsi will start at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Barcelona travel to face Sevilla in the seventh round of La Liga, with Flick expected to rotate his team after a demanding run of fixtures.

“We will see what we do, but we will definitely make changes,” Flick said at his news conference. “That is normal, and we have to do it to manage the players’ minutes.”

Flick confirmed that Cubarsi would return to the starting XI after being rested for Barcelona’s previous match against Racing Santander.

“What I can say is that Pau Cubarsi will play against Sevilla,” he added. “It was important that he got a rest against Racing Santander.”

The Barcelona manager also highlighted Raphinha’s importance to the team’s defensive work, particularly the way he leads the press from the front.

“If you look at the past two seasons, we have always started our pressing with the number nine,” Flick said. “Raphinha has incredible desire, great intensity, and the mentality and attitude needed to start the press that we require.”

Raphinha’s influence, Flick said, extends beyond his contribution in front of goal.

“Raphinha is performing brilliantly, not only by scoring goals, which he does very well, but also defensively,” he said.

“Raphinha always starts the defending and the pressing, and everyone gets involved. The players say: ‘If he moves, I will move too.’”

Flick described that collective movement as a key part of Barcelona’s approach and said Raphinha’s leadership sets the standard for the rest of the side.

“It is about all the players moving together, and Raphinha is the one who starts it,” he said. “As a leader, he moves first and everyone follows him.”

Barcelona are top of La Liga with 18 points after winning all six of their matches so far.

Sevilla occupy fifth place with 13 points from four wins, one draw and one defeat.