Hansi Flick Addresses Lewandowski Speculation and Updates on Frenkie de Jong's Fitness

Barcelona's manager, Hansi Flick, has indicated that Frenkie de Jong is on track to be fit for the upcoming Catalan derby this weekend, provided there are no setbacks. The Dutch midfielder has been sidelined for the past six weeks due to a muscle tear, and his return comes at a crucial time for Barcelona, who are experiencing a shortage in their midfield options.

Given the demanding fixture against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League next Tuesday, Barcelona might be compelled to rotate their squad for the derby. Flick emphasized that regardless of the lineup, the team fielded will be competitive. "We will see, of course we have to take care of the players and manage their minutes, as always. We have a lot of quality in this team and whoever plays tomorrow will do fantastically," he stated.

Addressing concerns about potential distraction due to the upcoming Champions League match, Flick expressed confidence in his team's focus: "I have very good feelings, the atmosphere and concentration were very good in training and I see the players very prepared and focused for tomorrow."

Lamine Yamal and Frenkie de Jong's Fitness Updates

Frenkie de Jong participated in team training on Thursday and completed a full session on Saturday. "He's also taking it one step at a time; the next step is tomorrow. We’ll see how he feels after training and then we’ll see what we do tomorrow. I’m very happy he’s back, but we have to wait until tomorrow. If he feels good in training, then will be on the bench," Flick commented on De Jong's status.

In the event that Pedri is rested, Gavi, who substituted him against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday, could be a potential replacement. "We’ll see how we manage it; it’s always good for him to start in the starting eleven, and we’ll see. I haven’t decided yet; we’ll have to wait until tomorrow," Flick said regarding Gavi's potential start.

Hansi Flick also indicated that Lamine Yamal is likely to feature in the match against Espanyol. "He’s a good option to start tomorrow, and we’ll see if he plays 90 minutes or not. We have to see; with him, we have to take it step by step, but he’s ready to start."

Robert Lewandowski's Future

Regarding the recent speculation surrounding Robert Lewandowski's future, Flick chose not to elaborate. "I’ve already answered that, I always answer it, it’s not the time to talk about this. We have a big goal and all the players need to focus on that and give their best, it’s not the time to talk about this. Next year is important but now is not the time to talk about who’s leaving," he stated.

Lewandowski's contract is set to expire this summer. Reports suggest that Barcelona has offered him a contract extension with significantly reduced wages and a less prominent role. Italian clubs AC Milan and Juventus have also been linked with the Polish striker.