Barcelona coach Hansi Flick mentioned he feels responsible for letting Fermín López be part of up with Spain U21s earlier this month after the midfielder was dominated out for one more three weeks.
López, 21, picked up a knock whereas on worldwide obligation with Spain at first of September. He returned to gentle coaching on Tuesday, however has now been dominated out till October with a thigh downside.
The spate of accidents come on the again of a summer time which noticed López characterize his nation within the European Championships and the Olympic Video games, successful each tournaments and claiming the Golden Boot on the latter.
“With Fermín, it is an actual pity,” Flick mentioned in a information convention forward of Thursday’s Champions League recreation towards Monaco. “The man had two tournaments. Usually I really feel a bit responsible as a result of I have never spoke with the coach with the U21s, as a result of usually you must say ‘Hey, depart him right here [with Barça].’
“However I’m new [in the country]. It isn’t an excuse, however I really feel very responsible about that.”
The lack of López — who scored 11 instances in his debut marketing campaign with the primary workforce final season — provides to Barça’s issues in midfield with Dani Olmo additionally dominated out for a month after injuring his hamstring in Sunday’s 4-1 win at Girona.
Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Marc Bernal additionally stay unavailable in the course of the park on account of accidents, but regardless of all that, Barcelona prime LaLiga with an ideal 15 factors from 5 video games.
“Fermín’s a participant we’d like on this scenario,” Flick added. “He can rating objectives and he’s very skilled. [On Tuesday], after I noticed him with the physician, it was not good. We’ve to handle the gamers, as a result of typically it is an excessive amount of.
“Gavi and Frenkie are again in coaching however they don’t seem to be 100%. We’ve to take care with them.
“Will probably be troublesome to [directly replace] Olmo as a result of he has high quality with the ball. In entrance of purpose, he can rating, give the final go and he is calm with the ball.”
Flick has referred to as up 16-year-old cousins Toni and Guille Fernández to assist cope with the harm disaster, which defender Jules Koundé believes is all the way down to the rising variety of video games on the soccer calendar.
The France worldwide echoed Manchester Metropolis midfielder Rodri‘s suggestion that gamers might must go on strike due to considerations over their growing workload.
“There are various factors [for the injuries], however the load of video games and fatigue is among the causes and doesn’t assist,” Kounde mentioned in a information convention on Wednesday.
“I agree with every part Rodri mentioned. The calendar is getting longer each season, there are extra video games yearly and fewer relaxation. However we’ve been saying this for years and nobody listens to us, the gamers, who’re the primary actors.
“Maybe we have to go on strike to make our voices heard. We’re already taking too many dangers and there are increasingly more accidents, no matter how properly we put together for video games.
“This 12 months, there will probably be gamers within the Membership World Cup on the finish of the season, too, who might attain 70 or 80 matches. It is loopy.
“We have to organise ourselves. There are a number of unions, however I believe we’d like one message that represents all footballers. It is one thing we should focus on among the many gamers.”
Additional ahead, Ansu Fati returns to the Barça squad to face Monaco, who beat the Blaugrana 3-0 simply over one month in the past within the Joan Gamper Trophy on the Olympic Stadium.
Flick says Fati is somebody who will add objectives to the workforce, performed down the importance of that defeat to Monaco and mentioned, after 5 wins in 5 in LaLiga, his workforce are prepared are prepared for this week’s European bow.
“We confirmed in current matches how critical we play and the way centered we begin video games,” he added. “Girona was a match at Champions League stage. With the ball, Girona are superb, however with our strain, they suffered rather a lot and we scored 4 objectives.
“Thursday’s match is towards an excellent workforce, they beat us within the Gamper, however now’s a brand new scenario. That is the most effective competitors on the earth. Everybody is prepared, needs to play and hopefully it goes in the fitting course.
“A membership like Barcelona, huge golf equipment, all the time wish to win titles. The Champions League is the most effective competitors and we get pleasure from all this and play on the very best stage. We’ve to be able to play towards the most effective groups. In case you are not centered, not 100%, you don’t have any likelihood on this competitors.”
