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FC Barcelona Assistant Sorg to Lead Team in El Clásico Amidst Flick’s Suspension

Madrid, Spain – With head coach Hansi Flick serving a suspension, assistant coach Marcus Sorg will lead FC Barcelona from the touchline this Sunday in the highly anticipated El Clásico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. Sorg addressed the media ahead of the crucial match, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Barcelona’s identity and controlling possession.

“It’s an honour to be on the bench,” Sorg said, expressing his pride in leading the team in such an important fixture. While Flick will be absent from the sidelines, Sorg emphasized his continued influence: “When Hansi isn’t there, you can feel his absence. He’s the most important part of the team.” However, he reassured that the team is prepared and motivated, knowing what is expected.

Speaking about the match, Sorg acknowledged the challenge ahead. “It will be a very tough game, but we have to show our strengths,” he stated, stressing the need to “press high, and keep our defensive line up.” He emphasized that straying from their established structure could be detrimental.

He pointed out that such games are always close, suggesting that the team playing better on the day will win. The key to victory at the Bernabéu, he said, will be avoiding turnovers, maintaining possession, and staying compact. “If we play as a unit, we’ll have our chances,” he affirmed.

Sorg also addressed the threat posed by Real Madrid, acknowledging their improvement, particularly in pressing. “Like last year, they’re very strong in transition. Our challenge is to press well. The biggest change is that they press much better now, especially in the front line.”

Regarding team selection, Raphinha is confirmed to be unavailable due to injury, while Ferran Torres’s participation remains undecided. In defense, Jules Kounde’s fitness is also a concern after he missed some training. However, Kounde trained on Saturday, and a final decision will be made closer to kick-off. “We’ll wait until the last moment to decide,” Sorg said.

The Clásico kicks off at 4:15 pm CET on Sunday. Barcelona fans will be hoping Sorg can guide the team to a repeat of last year’s memorable victory in Madrid.

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