Barcelona coach Flick admits turning to kids for Monaco clash

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick admitted he may have to field a team of youngsters for Thursday's Europa League clash with Monaco

"Due to the numerous injuries and absences, we will probably have to field a very young team tomorrow," Flick said in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

"We have a lot of players out injured, and we also have some players who are suspended. So we will have to see what team we can put out there."

Barcelona are without a number of key players for the match, including Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele, Pedri, and Gavi.

Flick said he was confident that the young players who would be given a chance to play would be able to step up

"I have a lot of faith in our young players," Flick said.

"They are very talented and they have a lot of potential. I am sure that they will be able to show what they can do against Monaco."

Barcelona are currently top of their Europa League group, but they will need to avoid defeat against Monaco to secure their place in the knockout stages.

Full Q&A presser

Question: How big a blow is it to be without so many key players for this game?

Flick: It is a big blow, but we have to deal with it. We have a lot of young players who are eager to play, and I am confident that they will be able to step up.

Question: What are your expectations for the game?

Flick: We want to win the game and secure our place in the knockout stages. We know that it will be a tough game, but we are confident that we can get the result we need.

Question: What do you know about Monaco?

Flick: They are a very good team. They are well-organized and they have some very talented players. We will need to be at our best to beat them.