Ahead of Barça’s trip to Villarreal on Sunday, Hansi Flick spoke to the media this Saturday and notably discussed the return of Ansu Fati. The 21-year-old winger, on loan last season at Brighton and injured before the restart, came on in the final minutes of the match against Monaco on Thursday in the Champions League. And the German coach intends to give him his chance to become a starter again.
It was a return expected by Barcelona fans. On Thursday in Monaco, Ansu Fati played his first minutes in Catalan colours in thirteen months, having been loaned to Brighton last season. Coming on at the end of the match, the 21-year-old winger was unable to prevent his team’s defeat (1-2) for their first Champions League match. But Hansi Flick intends to give him the opportunity to rehabilitate after his right foot injury in July which delayed the start of his season.
“We hope to see his best version. After an injury, it takes a while to come back. We communicate very well with him, the medical staff and the fitness trainer. We want to give him playing time because he needs it before he becomes a starter again. From what I’ve seen, I think he’s at another level now and he can bring us a lot,” said the German coach at a press conference on Saturday, ahead of the sixth day of La Liga.
A special plan after his injury
Once touted as one of the best attacking players to come out of the masia, Ansu Fati, who has dual Spanish-Bissau-Guinean nationality, has seen his rise slowed by physical problems. Loaned to Brighton last season with a view to relaunching himself, he ultimately never managed to establish himself in the English team then managed by Roberto De Zerbi, scoring only four goals in 27 games.
Back in Barcelona this summer, he injured his right foot during training in July, causing him to miss the perfect start to the season in La Liga of his teammates, still unbeaten in the Spanish championship. But he can count on the unfailing support of the new coach of the Catalans, who is counting on him.
As proof of his confidence in him, Hansi Flick has developed, with his staff, a special plan to get him back on his feet as quickly as possible: ideal and tailor-made physical work as well as personal advice from the German technician who kept an eye on these sessions, as revealed by the daily Sport. The rest of the plan is now clear: put him in the best conditions so that he becomes an undisputed starter again. This should start on Sunday, with more minutes of play during the trip to Villarreal (6:30 p.m.).
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