Hansi Flick ready to rotate as Barcelona face packed schedule

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick says he will not be afraid to make changes for the visit of Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Barca are preparing for the start of three matches in seven days, with a midweek trip to Benfica for their Champions League last-16 tie awaiting in midweek before Osasuna next Saturday.

Three points for Flick’s side will keep them on top of La Liga with another 12 games to go but the Barca boss will not be afraid to rotate.

He told a press conference: “I think we will change. We need fresh legs and tomorrow is a good day to use this. We will have changes but I will not say which changes we do.

“Every three days we have a match. It is a big load but we have to manage it and take care of some players and have changes but it is normal, every team has this.

“It’s for them who arranged this. It is not easy to manage this but we have to manage it so with the players, some fresh legs, it’s good to have them and we will give everything.

“We are fighting for three titles. When we started I think no one expected that but the team is doing great.”

Sociedad were victorious over Barcelona when the two sides last met in November, which started a run of just three wins in nine games for Sunday’s hosts.

Barcelona have since picked themselves back up and Flick thinks they are now in a better place.

He added: “Focus on the next match and this is Sociedad. We are looking positive and now in a better moment. We have to show that and we will do that.

“The team has a lot of quality and we have to show it and we are not scared of any opponent, we are looking at ourself.

“Sociedad is a really good team, they defend well but with the ball they have good players so they know how to play football and we have to be ready tomorrow.”

Barcelona have conceded the most goals out of the top four which has proved to be their Achilles heel at certain points this season, most recently in the 4-4 draw with Atletico Madrid in the Copa Del Rey in midweek.

Flick knows his team have to pay more attention on the defensive side.

He added: “When we saw Real Madrid with 10 players we defended well, even the last matches with a clean sheet.

“We invest a lot of energy and power to come back after the two goals against Atletico and what we see is a fantastic match from our team. I think it was one of the best.

“It’s normal when you invest a lot of energy, maybe at the end it’s a bit less and we don’t press well. We are focused on these things and know we have to do better.”