Flick’s Shadow Squad: Barca’s Rising Stars Ready to Step Up Against Newcastle
10 March 2026
Flick's plan to cover defensive absences
Hansi Flick, the German coach at Barcelona, has drawn up a plan to ready the bench before the visit of Newcastle United in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
According to Sport, Flick held a private video session with academy players to prepare them for the upcoming phase, underscoring his commitment to nurturing young talents stepping up to the first team to cover injuries or fill the squad when needed.
Last week Flick called upon Xavi Espart and Álvaro Cortés following the absence of Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde from the Bilbao match, with the coach knowing both well.
Espart has previously trained with the first team for weeks and has been named in squads several times without making an official appearance. Cortés trained with the senior group on several occasions last season, and Flick publicly praised the duo in the press conference ahead of Bilbao.
In addition, Flick intensified work by showing video clips last Friday to ensure they are ready if called upon, particularly because Barcelona's high defensive line that traps opponents offside demands high concentration that cannot be learned overnight. The staff provided precise guidance before traveling to Newcastle for the Champions League tie, a major opportunity for the players.
Looking at Cortés's journey, he joined Barça as a youth from Real Zaragoza, later spending a loan spell at DAM in 2022/23 to gain minutes in a club known for polishing talent, before making his first appearance with the Barca B team in 2023/24 and featuring 30 times for Barça Atlètic in 2024/25. Espart, a pure La Masia product, has progressed through all age groups, excelling in linking play and defense and boasting a growing muscular frame to ready him for a potential step to the first team effortlessly.
Also read: Flick: Injuries are a personal responsibility... Barca players remind me of Philip Lahm.
