Despite a tough schedule, Flick believes Barcelona can remain competitive.

The 9th round of the 2026/27 La Liga season will feature a key match, with defending champions Barcelona traveling to face Real Betis. Manager Hansi Flick stated in a press conference that players' playing time must be well managed, but he also expressed confidence that the team can remain competitive despite the congested schedule.

With goals from Gordon, Jesus, and Koundé, Barcelona defeated Getafe 3-0 in the last round of La Liga. After securing their eighth consecutive win, Barcelona currently sits atop the table with 24 points, five points ahead of second-placed Atlético Madrid, and must remain unbeaten to further solidify their lead in their title defense goal.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said, "The most important thing is to win tomorrow's game. Real Betis have a perfect record at home, so they are very confident, and they have also done very well in the Champions League. They have very good players in one-on-one situations, and we must defend well."

“We are about to face one of the best teams, and they have made incredible progress compared to last season. They have also done very well since returning to the Champions League after 20 years. We are now only focused on the game against Real Betis, and I am not thinking about anything other than giving it my all and playing at my best.”

Flick pointed out, "Our defense was excellent, and so was our offense. Rodri, Pedri, and Fermín all played exceptionally well, so we must maintain this level of performance."

When discussing managing the players' workload during the schedule, Flick said, "Yamal is a special player, and we have to manage his playing time. For him, the most important thing is to enjoy football. That's his form, and I don't want to disrupt that. However, we must manage the playing time of all players reasonably."

“Olmo is currently at a top level and can bring a lot to the team. It’s a good thing to have him, including playing him as the number 9. He has proven himself in that position many times. Fermín can also play that position, and he can also make runs from the second line to help the team, like in the attack when he scored against Galatasaray.”

Flick continued, "Although Olmo didn't score as many goals, he provided a lot of help to the team. It's a very good thing to be able to choose between these two players."

Furthermore, after the match against Real Betis, Barcelona will travel to Paris to face defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the third round of the Champions League.

Regarding such a packed schedule, Flick stated, "We face this situation every season; it's become the norm. In the past two seasons, we've experienced periods of extreme physical strain on our players. We can't change this situation; what we can control is ensuring the team maintains a high level of performance on the field."

"I repeat this at every press conference. It may sound a bit boring, but I have complete confidence in my team. We can't change the schedule, so we can only accept it."

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