Hansi Flick Hails Returning Players Ahead of Atletico Madrid Clash.

Hansi Flick confident Barcelona will bounce back

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick says team will improve with returning players, ahead of crucial Atletico Madrid match.

“I know we are not (in) top (form) like last season. But we have potential. And we have to increase our level...”

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has acknowledged that his team isn't as strong as they were last season, but he's confident they'll bounce back. Flick is looking forward to having some key players return to fitness, particularly Pedri, who made his comeback as a second-half substitute in Saturday's 3-1 win over Alaves.

Pedri had been out for over a month with a hamstring injury, and Flick is hopeful he'll be ready to start against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Frenkie de Jong is also expected to return, which will give Flick a strong midfield pairing. However, Ronald Araujo will miss the match due to a stomach issue.

❝ We are playing against a fantastic team. We’re leaders, but there’s still a lot of season left. We’re working hard to get back to our best level. ❞

🔊 Hansi Flick on tomorrow's #BarçaAtleti pic.twitter.com/5Vipy0cUwk

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 1, 2025

Atletico Madrid are currently in fourth place, just three points behind Barcelona, so the match is shaping up to be a thrilling encounter. Flick has praised Atletico's quality and is expecting a tough game, but he's confident his team can rise to the challenge.

He is set to start against Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid, alongside midfield partner Frenkie de Jong, who missed the Alaves match for family reasons. “I'm really happy. The players are coming back, maybe we can increase our level. This is the most important thing,” Flick said, expressing his excitement about the team's prospects.

Flick's comments come as the team prepares for a crucial match, with Uruguayan centre-back Ronald Araujo out due to injury. The coach is optimistic about the returning players boosting the team's performance.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has faced criticism for the team's lackluster performances, particularly in high-profile matches. Despite being top of La Liga, Flick acknowledged that Barça need to improve, saying, “I know we are not (in) top (form) like last season. But we have potential. And we have to increase our level.”

Last training session before #BarçaAtleti ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Pku0DIMpZ0

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 1, 2025

The German has come under fire this seen for a series of abject displays, not least in the Catalans' highest profile matches - a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea and 2-1 reverses against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite being top of the table, Flick admitted that Barça need to improve.

“I know we are not (in) top (form) like last season,” he said. “But we have potential. And we have to increase our level.”