Hansi Flick: Ansu Fati Needs Hard Work To Play

JAKARTA - Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said hard work was needed if Ansu Fati wanted to regain his place in the team.

Flick once again dropped the forward from the squad in a 4-1 win over Sevilla on Monday, February 10, 2025, early morning WIB, in La Liga.

Fati played 29 minutes in Barcelona's first match in 2025, namely in the Copa del Rey against Barbastro from the fourth division. However, he did not appear in the next 10 matches.

Flick had not included him in the squad at all in the six games and told him in January 2025 that he could find a new club if he wanted.

"I spoke to him very honestly. However, it's not like you talk to the coach and then everything is different (in the future)."

"What I can say is that he is on a really good track. He is close to the team. This is the most important thing."

"I saw a lot of situations from him (in the past) when he was at the top level, top level and this level. I think we're trying to achieve it again."

"This, yes, is a difficult job for us and for him. However, he did well and was close to the team," Flick told a news conference on Monday, February 10, 2025.

Flick spoke happily about Fati as Barcelona coach last summer. However, the injury once again interfered with the Spanish international's season.

Foot injury caused him to miss the first five games of the season. Then, he missed six other matches due to muscle problems in November and December 2024.

In total, he has appeared eight times in all competitions under Flick, with only one of them as a starting player.

For this reason, Flick opened the door for Fati to leave on loan in January 2025. However, the player prefers to stay and fight for his place.

After entering the first team at the age of 16, Fati's development was severely hampered by a series of serious injuries.

He spent last season on loan at Premier League club Brighton, where calf problems limited his performance in just 27 games throughout the season.

The road to a place in Barcelona's first team is currently blocked by Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha.

Then, Ferran Torres, Pau Victor, and Pablo Torre among several other players Flick prefers during rotation are needed in attack.

Meanwhile, Barcelona's victory in Sevilla revived the title competition in La Liga.

Now the Blaugrana are only two points away from leaders Real Madrid and one point away from Atletico Madrid in second place.