Hansi Flick set to begin Barcelona preparations with just eight first-team players

Hansi Flick set to begin Barcelona preparations with just eight first-team players Hansi Flick will begin preparations for Barcelona’s return to club football with an unusually small group. The ongoing international break leaves the German coach with potentially only eight first-team players for Monday’s training session. According to Diario AS , Barça will not have their full available squad together again until Thursday, barely 48 hours before they face Getafe at the Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday. Flick starts with depleted group Alejandro Balde, Brian Farinas, Gavi, Wojciech Szczesny, Gerard Martin and Gabriel Jesus are expected to be available when training resumes. Karim Adeyemi could also join them after only being called up for Germany’s first two matches, while Frenkie de Jong is expected to complete part of the session with the group. Barcelona players are on international duty with their nations. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) That would leave Flick with eight senior players initially. The numbers should improve gradually through the week. Joao Cancelo and Hamza Abdelkarim are scheduled to return on Tuesday, with Jules Kounde following on Wednesday. Eric Garcia and Raphinha are also expected back in the coming days after returning from international duty with minor physical problems. Joan Garcia should also be available again sooner rather than later after the injury he suffered against Racing. Spain contingent will not return until Thursday Hansi Flick’s biggest concern is the Spain contingent. Fermin Lopez, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Pedri, Pau Cubarsi, Rodri, Xavi Espart and Marc Bernal are all expected to return on Thursday following their commitments across Spain’s senior and Under-21 sides. Anthony Gordon and Dominik Livakovic are also expected back on the same day. Assuming there are no more injuries, Andreas Christensen and Roony Bardghji should be the only players who remain unavailable through injury. Frenkie de Jong is closing in on a return from injury. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) This creates an awkward situation for Flick to navigate. Barcelona have nine days without club football, but the coach cannot use most of that period to prepare tactically with his first-choice squad. It could also influence his team selection for next Saturday, with the German coach likely to prefer players who are more ready. For now, the priority is for everyone to return without any more injury issues, and it remains to be seen how things play out this week.