FC Barcelona’s season has reached its boiling point, and problems have started to arise. Frenkie de Jong has overloaded his adductor, and this is scary. Olmo also got injured this past week, and injuries have begun to mount in Hansi Flick’s squad. Can youth, rotation, and tactics keep Barca’s treble dreams alive?
Barcelona are Facing Crunch Time Crisis
The timing of these injuries could not be worse. Ten games of La Liga are left, the Copa del Rey semi-finals are on the corner, and a Champions League quarter-final clash is looming as well. The margins for errors are extremely thin, and now the weight of injuries could crumble Flick’s team.
De Jong has been a game-changer for Barca this season, and his adductor (muscle in the medial compartment of the thigh) overload is a result of burnout. Several Barca players have returned from international duty, playing up to 120 minutes and featuring against Osasuna with almost no rest. The result? Olmo is injured and will miss two weeks worth of games, and now De Jong is about to miss the next fixture. If the Catalans collapse now, these accursed injuries will be the main villains.
Pablo Torre and Fermin Lopez Must Answer Barcelona’s Midfield Woes
Luckily, Barcelona has a wealth of options in the midfield. Pablo Torre’s fantastic performance against Osasuna reminded us of the talent rotting on the bench. Fermin Lopez’s cameo was also brilliant. So now, this is their moment. With Olmo and de Jong sidelined, the youth must take responsibility.
Pedri should also start from the bench in the next game, as an injury to him is the last thing Barca wants. The trio of Torre, Fermin, and Gavi should start tomorrow, and it’s time they make a statement. They should state that trusting them is not risky.
Another Big Test for Hansi Flick
Hansi Flick must tread carefully now. As good as he has been, the German competes in three competitions, and the squad is starting to crumble from injuries. One injury to a big player could be a disaster. And if Flick rotates too much, La Liga might slip too.
So, how will Hansi Flick react? It will be interesting and decisive. The German will have to keep a fine line between resting key players, making rotations, and using his ace players. Balancing this must be perfected, and Barca’s destiny hinges on these crucial decisions.