Ahead of the crucial derby against Espanyol, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick highlighted the match's emotional significance for the club and its supporters. He expressed confidence in his squad's depth while addressing potential rotations due to an upcoming Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid. Flick voiced frustration over controversial refereeing in their previous match, emphasizing the need for effective VAR usage. On player injuries, he provided updates on Frenkie de Jong, indicating a cautious approach to his return, and left the status of Lamine Yamal open-ended. Flick also reaffirmed Barcelona's ambition to excel in both La Liga and the Champions League, stating that winning the latter remains a primary goal for the team. He dismissed transfer speculation surrounding Robert Lewandowski and focused on team performance, while also avoiding distractions from external comments regarding the Negreira case.