Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has strongly denied reports suggesting he faced interference in his team selections, calling such claims “nonsense” ahead of Saturday’s LaLiga home clash with local rivals Girona.

“I don’t know where this information is coming from, but to be honest, it’s completely bullsh*t,” Flick said at a press conference. “I was never asked about this. I really appreciate the trust the club has in my work—they would never interfere like that. If anyone says otherwise, they are lying.”

Barcelona, currently two points behind LaLiga leaders Real Madrid, head into the Girona match grappling with a significant injury crisis that has sidelined eight first-team players. Key absentees include striker Robert Lewandowski, who is recovering from a torn thigh muscle sustained while on international duty with Poland.

The Catalans are also without Dani Olmo, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, Joan Garcia, and Marc-André ter Stegen.

“We can’t change the injuries; we have to find solutions,” Flick said. “Yamal and Fermin Lopez have returned to training but can’t play the full 90 minutes. We may need to rely on players from La Masia. We’ll see how it goes.”

Despite the setbacks, Flick remained optimistic about Raphinha’s return ahead of next week’s high-profile El Clasico against Real Madrid.

“Our plan for El Clasico is that Raphinha will be back. He faced some recovery issues, but he’s progressing well,” he added.

Flick also praised the professionalism of Lewandowski, highlighting the striker’s dedication to maintaining peak physical condition.

“No one takes care of his body more than Robert—maybe Cristiano Ronaldo—but at his age, he’s exceptional. He didn’t even realize he was injured while playing for Poland. It’s a blow for us, but we have to manage it,” Flick said.

Barcelona enter the Girona clash under pressure following consecutive defeats—a home loss to PSG in the Champions League and a 4-1 defeat at Sevilla in LaLiga prior to the international break. Flick called on his players to show resilience and fight for every ball.

“It’s all about attitude and mentality on the pitch. We are Barca. Our fans expect us to fight in every situation. Last season we won three titles, but this is a new season. We need to start now with the same mindset, and I’m confident we’ll give everything tomorrow,” he concluded.