Barcelona coach Hansi Flick mentioned he gave Raphinha break day to clear his thoughts after he was left devastated by his latest harm, whereas urging Marcus Rashford to step up within the absence of the Brazil worldwide.
Raphinha, 29, injured his proper hamstring in Brazil’s defeat to France final week, ruling him out for 5 weeks.
He’ll miss the upcoming trilogy of matches in opposition to Atlético Madrid, together with the Champions League quarterfinal tie, and would even be sidelined for a possible semifinal.
“It is not one of the best second for this harm, for us or for him,” Flick mentioned in a information convention forward of Saturday’s go to to Atlético in LaLiga.
“He was unhappy about this and we’re not glad.”
It is the third time this season Raphinha has injured the identical hamstring, having already missed 16 video games for membership and nation within the present marketing campaign with the issue.
Flick spoke with him after Brazil’s recreation in opposition to France in Boston and, together with sporting director Deco, took the choice to let him spend a while again in his homeland.
“I talked to him on FaceTime and he was very upset, very down, so I made a decision with Deco that [he could spend time in Brazil],” Flick mentioned.
“Usually we wish the gamers right here, however he is in good fingers and possibly he can clear his thoughts, come again this weekend and begin on Monday.
“Because of this I gave him some days in Brazil along with his household, to clear his thoughts. It was clear for us.”
Raphinha might return for the Clásico in opposition to Actual Madrid on Might 10 at Spotify Camp Nou, however within the meantime Rashford could get an opportunity to persuade Barça to take up their choice to make his mortgage everlasting for €30 million ($34.6m) this summer season.
Resulting from Raphinha’s type and his personal harm issues, the England ahead has began simply considered one of Barça’s final 10 video games, however after that includes twice for his nation this week he might begin on the Metropolitano this weekend.
“I’m pleased with Marcus as a result of he is carried out nicely,” Flick mentioned of the Manchester United ahead, who has 10 targets and 13 assists in 39 appearances this season.
“Within the final weeks he had some issues, he was injured, we needed to take care about that. It is a good likelihood now for him to indicate once more, however we’ve got different choices [to replace Raphinha].
“Fermín [López] can play there; Gavi can also play there. I’m glad Gavi is again on this degree. We’ll see. We have now extra choices.”
Flick additionally mentioned that Jules Koundé, Alejandro Balde and Eric García have all recovered from knocks and can be found to face Atlético, though Frenkie de Jong is not going to return to coaching till subsequent week.
Barça go into the ultimate stretch of the season sitting prime of LaLiga, 4 factors away from Actual Madrid, with Atlético fourth, 16 factors off the tempo.
Saturday’s assembly between the 2 groups is the primary of three in 11 days, with Barça welcoming Atlético within the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie on Wednesday and the second leg happening in Madrid the next Tuesday.
The winners will face both Arsenal or Sporting Membership within the semifinal.
