Hansi Flick has called on Barcelona to bounce back immediately when they host Alavés at the Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday, insisting his side must put their recent defeats behind them and return to winning ways.
The Barcelona manager admitted that Alejandro Balde is currently lacking the confidence and conviction required to perform at his best, while praising Brian's performances in training and suggesting the youngster deserves a place in the team.
Flick also addressed Lamine Yamal's Ballon d'Or campaign, Raphinha's international commitments with Brazil and Barcelona's defensive struggles, while expressing his appreciation for the board's continued support.
Opening his press conference, Flick sent his condolences to those affected by the train accident in Toledo.
"On behalf of the players and myself, I want to send our sincere condolences to everyone affected by the train accident in Toledo. Our thoughts are with the families, and we send them all our love," he said.
The German coach also discussed Raphinha's situation following his return from international duty with an injury, confirming that he had spoken with sporting director Deco.
"He's a very important player for us, and he returned injured after the international break. It's not an ideal situation, but that's how things are and there's nothing we can do about it.
"Rapha has Barcelona in his heart, but when the national team calls, he wants to be there. Everyone wants to help Brazil. If we can manage his minutes, I'd be happy. Traveling back and forth to Singapore isn't ideal, but that's out of my hands."
Despite Barcelona's recent defeats, Flick insisted there is no reason to panic, pointing to the long season ahead and the team's injury problems.
"As I always say, it's a long road. This is a good moment to respond, and nothing irreversible has happened. Losing to Real Madrid is never something anyone wants, but I believe we could have won that game. We have to accept the defeat and learn from it.
"Jules is out, along with Espart, Olmo, Eric and Christensen. We're missing four defenders, so we have to find solutions. That's exactly what we're working on. Tomorrow, we have to take all three points."
Flick also shared his thoughts on Lamine Yamal's Ballon d'Or prospects, admitting that Harry Kane was another player who deserved recognition. The Barcelona boss was particularly impressed by Yamal's reaction and his decision to highlight teammate Pau Cubarsí.
"I also think Kane deserved to win it. You already know my opinion of Lamine — he's absolutely at the level required to win the Ballon d'Or.
"I thought it was fantastic that he spoke about Cubarsí, who also deserved to win the Kopa Trophy. It was a great gesture. I'm very proud of Lamine. He reacted really well. He's extremely focused, and that's how champions respond. I'm happy with his mentality because it's good for the team.
"I'm glad all of that is over so we can focus on other things."
Defensive issues were another major talking point, with Flick acknowledging that Barcelona must improve their concentration and organization, particularly when defending aerial situations.
"Defending isn't just the job of the back line. Even the striker has to be involved. First of all, we cannot give the ball away so easily. We lost possession several times against Real Madrid. We lacked freshness, although that has happened in other games too.
"We need to play with more composure and intelligence. When defending inside the box, it's also crucial to mark our opponents properly, and we didn't do that well enough. We've worked on it in training and discussed it as a team."
With a full week to prepare for Saturday's encounter, Flick believes his players are in a positive frame of mind and ready to respond.
"These are two defeats, but the team is playing well and believes in its own strength and quality. Today's training session was good. The mood is positive and the atmosphere is good.
"Now we have to show that on the pitch tomorrow. Alavés are a good defensive team, but we're Barcelona and we want to show our best version."
Flick also spoke positively about Tunkara, who has recently returned from injury after featuring during preseason with the first team.
"He was coming back from an injury, but he got some minutes. He completed preseason with us, and I like what I've seen from him. He's doing a good job. Anything can happen," Flick added.
The Barcelona coach then echoed Rodri's recent comments about the importance of controlling possession, explaining that reducing unnecessary turnovers will be crucial to his team's performances.
"I ask the same things of my team as always. We need to give the ball away less and have more possession. When you control the game, you decide how the ball moves and you can control your opponent better.
"We cannot keep losing possession because then we're forced to chase the ball, and that's not good for us. The best thing is to avoid mistakes. Rodri is right when he says you have to control the game and remain calm."
When asked about his options at full-back and the possibility of rotating his defensive line, Flick singled out Brian for praise, making it clear that the youngster has impressed him since joining first-team training.
"I could rest one of them. Brian is very intelligent. He's been training with us since the start of the season and has been doing a fantastic job. He deserves to play now."
Flick also highlighted Frenkie de Jong's importance to the team, praising the Dutch midfielder's versatility, technical ability and contribution at both ends of the pitch.
"He's a very important player for me. When he's at 100%, he's incredible. He has outstanding technical quality on the ball and a great mentality. He also helps us defensively. He's a top player who takes this team to another level."
De Jong could even be deployed in central defence as Barcelona deal with their injury problems, with Flick confirming that he is considering different solutions. However, the coach also acknowledged that Balde needs to rediscover his confidence.
"De Jong can play as a center-back. Right now, we only have Cubarsí and Gerard as natural center-backs, so it's important to find solutions. We're managing the situation. Frenkie can operate in several positions.
"As for Balde, he doesn't currently have the confidence he needs in his game, or the conviction. Defenders are extremely important, and he needs that confidence to perform at his best."
Finally, Flick welcomed the public support he has received from Barcelona's board, including president Joan Laporta and Deco, but insisted that his focus remains firmly on the team's performances rather than external backing.
"It's a nice gesture, and it's always good when people show confidence in you, but I understand the situation. We've lost two games. I'm doing my job in the best possible way, and I'm very happy to be here. Nothing has changed.
"We won 11 games and now we've suffered two defeats. We have to get back to winning ways. But our footballing philosophy is the best approach for this team. We'll stick with it until the very end."