September 12, 2026, Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain: Hansi Flick, head coach of FC Barcelona, attends his press conference during the training day of FC Barcelona ahead the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match against Levante UD at Ciudad Esportiva Joan Gamper on September 12, 2026 in Sant Joan Despi, Barcelona, Spain.
Credit Image: © Javier Borrego/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire
Following their 3-0 win over Getafe in their first La Liga game following the September international break, FC Barcelona are now set to return to action in the UEFA Champions League, as they will face the Turkish side Galatasaray in their second League Phase game.
As Mundo Deportivo has reported, Hansi Flick addressed his customary press conference ahead of this game and discussed several aspects related to his team.
With Raphinha still unavailable, one of the main talking points ahead of this game will be whom the German coach will start at the center-forward position. The newly signed Gabriel Jesus remains one of the most likely options for the Blaugrana tactician, but Flick did not provide any hints on who will start at this position:
“Of course, he is ready to play. Whether he plays, which we still don’t know, will be decided after training.”
Meanwhile, he also expressed his surprise and happiness with how the Brazilian forward has performed so far:
“We are very happy with him. He was a little surprise, we have to admit. His attitude is fantastic, and he is a great player.”
Having played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Manchester City and Arsenal, there is no doubt about Gabriel Jesus’ quality. However, he has long suffered from physical problems, and injuries have significantly kept him from reaching the heights that he could have reached.
As a result, it was understandable why Hansi Flick did not have very high expectations from the Brazilian forward. However, the player has shown in these first few games of the new season that he remains a very capable forward, and in Raphinha’s absence, he would provide Flick with another highly reliable option to form the center of the team’s attack. However, the Barcelona coach will have several other options as well, and it remains to be seen whether Jesus would start against Galatasaray.