Barcelona is preparing to face Elche next Saturday at the Montjuïc stadium, as part of the eleventh round of the Spanish League, in light of the difficult circumstances the Catalan team is going through after its recent loss in the Clásico match against Real Madrid, in addition to the exacerbation of the injury crisis that has affected its ranks since the beginning of the season.
According to the Spanish newspaper “Mundo Deportivo”, Marcus Rashford traveled from Barcelona to the city of Manchester, after obtaining special permission from the coaching staff to travel in order to conduct intensive physical training with a private coach.
The newspaper pointed out that the aim of this step is to maintain his physical and mental fitness during this important period of the season, especially since he has been performing well since joining the Catalan team last summer.
Rashford is keen to maintain his highest level even as a number of injured players approach their return, with the aim of securing his place in the starting lineup. Physical preparation centers in Manchester have been a favorite place for him for years, as he used to go there when he needed specialized sessions, and this time it was done in full coordination with Barcelona.
The English star published photos via his “Instagram” account from inside the gym, showing his commitment to working hard to maintain his high fitness.
Rashford is expected to return to Barcelona tomorrow, Thursday, to join group training, in preparation for participating in the Elche match at the end of this week.
Cubarsí with permission.. and Olmo returns
In addition to Rashford, the young defender Pau Cubarsí was absent from training with permission from the coaching staff. At the same time, Flick used a number of Barcelona Athletic players to compensate for the shortage in the ranks of the first team, such as: Kochen, Ider Alier, Goeffrey, Dru Fernandez, Toni Fernandez, and Xavi Espart.
The only good news in training was the return of Spanish winger Dani Olmo to group training for the first time since his injury with the Spanish national team two weeks ago, which gave the coaching staff an important moral boost before a busy period of domestic and European matches.
New shock.. Pedri injury
But Barcelona’s joy did not last long, as the club officially announced, in a statement published on its website on Wednesday morning, the injury of young star Pedri González with a tear in the biceps femoris muscle of his left thigh, without specifying the duration of his absence.
The club statement read: “First team player Pedri González suffers from a tear in the biceps femoris muscle of his left thigh. The date of his return will be determined based on the development of his condition in the coming days.”
This injury is considered a new shock for Barcelona fans who have not yet recovered from the bitterness of the defeat in the Clásico against Real Madrid, as Pedri’s injury is added to a long list of absences that have confused coach Hans Flick’s calculations.
Pedri was supposed to miss the Elche match due to suspension after being sent off in the Clásico, but the new injury makes the date of his return unknown, at a time when Barcelona needs all of its key players in order to regain balance.
These circumstances place the German coach in front of a new challenge to search for alternative solutions in midfield, especially since Pedri is considered one of the main elements in Flick’s plan. With the decline in the performance of some midfielders, the pressure increases on the coach to find the ideal formation that guarantees technical stability.
Rafinha and the lost energy.. and Yamal’s mystery
Barcelona’s problems do not stop at midfield only, but the team also suffers from influential absences in the attack, most notably the Brazilian Rafinha, who suffers from a muscle injury that has prevented him from participating in the past weeks.
The Pole Robert Lewandowski is also absent, in addition to Juan Garcia, the young goalkeeper who was among the deals that the club bet on last summer. As for Dani Olmo, despite his return to training, he is still in the stage of regaining his full fitness.
All of these absences have caused Barcelona to lose much of the offensive vitality that characterized it, but Flick refuses to consider this as a justification for the decline in performance, stressing that the available players are able to provide a good performance worthy of the club’s history and identity.
Among the worrying things in Barcelona is the condition of the talented winger Lamine Yamal, who appeared at a lower level than usual in the last Clásico match. Reports indicate that the player suffers from a chronic injury in the pubic area that affects his speed and dribbling, which prompts the coaching staff to think about resting him for a long period to ensure his full recovery.
Flick believes that “patience with Yamal is a must”, even if it requires his absence for several weeks, noting that restoring his readiness by 100% is more important than risking him in light of the pressure of matches.
Barcelona between criticism and confidence
Despite the negative atmosphere that prevailed over the team after the loss in the Clásico (2-1) against Real Madrid, there is a sense of calm and confidence within the club in Flick’s ability to correct the course.
Officials believe that the defeat was not surprising, especially since Real Madrid played with all its players and on its home ground, while Barcelona was missing a number of its key players. However, the team was close to achieving a positive result.
The Spanish press recalled the recent statements of President Joan Laporta during the General Assembly, when he referred to what he called the “white arbitration current”, in reference to Real Madrid’s benefiting from some controversial decisions.
But inside Barcelona, the focus is now on technical improvement more than complaining, as Flick believes that the path back to the top begins from within, by strengthening harmony and correcting mistakes, and not by relying on excuses.
For Hans Flick, this period is considered crucial in his career with Barcelona. The team needs strong leadership that restores confidence to the players and confirms that the project is still on the right track.
