“They don’t have the idea of f***ing!”
Barcelona midfielder Gabi clashed with his critics before Wednesday’s match against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
The 20-year-old is often stereotyped as a physical player rather than a skilled player, but the Spaniard finally made his remarks about the suspects he had.
At a pre-match press conference, he said: “Many people think I don’t know how to play football. They don’t have the idea of f***ing. That’s true, but I get it.
The young Blaugrana star missed early in the season due to a serious ACL injury in late 2023. Since returning in November, Gabi has made 29 appearances, scored three goals, and gradually returned to form.
Under manager Hanshiflic, Gavi is deployed in various midfield roles. He admits he hasn’t returned to his best yet, but the midfielder admits he appreciates the trust and coaching of the German coach.
“Flick has a great understanding,” Gavi added. “He understands I’m coming back from a long injury layoff. A year from now won’t be easy, but he shows me a lot of faith and I’m really happy to have him as a coach.
gavi: “Many people think I don’t know how to play football, but they don’t have a clue for af**king.”
“I’m 100% perfect since I returned. Whether I’m comfortable with some games over the other is a different matter. I’m calm and pleased with my performance.” pic.twitter.com/vo5jpa7qai
-Fabrizio Romano (@fabrizioromano) April 8, 2025
“He plays me in many positions and it can improve my game at both base level and offensive. I’m going to be more complete as a player.
“Many appearances came in 10th, but he also knows I can play as a double pivot or number six. I am improving every day and it’s even better for me to be able to play these different roles.
“It’s true that I don’t have the important role I have like the other seasons, but it’s normal after coming back from a long injury. I’m very pleased with the recovery I’ve done. If you told me I took it when I got back from an injury, I took it.”
Barca will face Dortmund in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday, with the Catalans still looking at the treble under Flick’s leadership.
However, Gabi is trying to shoot one game at a time and refuses to be engrossed when it comes to seasonal aspirations.
Gavi added: “We’ve had an epic season, but we don’t feel invincible. You can’t always win soccer. We have to be humble in every game. We need to remember where we came from and keep our feet on the ground. There are still plenty of games.