Flick delighted with Barcelona stars’ change in attitude during the international break

Flick delighted with Barcelona stars’ change in attitude during the international break For Hansi Flick and coaching staff, injuries were one of the main reasons FC Barcelona fell short of their ambitions last season. The squad spent too much time without one of their most important players, Raphinha, because of physical problems, largely linked to excessive workloads with the Brazil national team. The likes of Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde, Ferran Torres, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Lamine Yamal were also affected. Against that backdrop, Barcelona’s coaching staff have been pleased by the squad’s response during the recent, unusually long three-week international break, as reported by SPORT . The Catalans are determined to avoid further setbacks caused by excessive minutes and travel, problems that significantly affected the team last season. Flick is particularly delighted that his players have been unwilling to take unnecessary risks, choosing instead to listen to their bodies and stop when they recognise a problem. Raphinha and Eric Garcia set the example Raphinha returned early from the Brazil camp with a minor injury. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images) The decisions made by Raphinha and Eric Garcia reflect this change in approach. The Brazilian forward suffered problems with his right thigh last season after representing his country. This time, when he detected physical discomfort during Brazil’s match against Australia, he asked to be substituted at half-time rather than risk aggravating the problem, before eventually returning to Spain. Eric also took a similar approach. The versatile defender withdrew during the warm-up before Spain’s first match and returned to Barcelona for medical tests. In both cases, the coaching staff considered the decisions correct, prioritising caution to prevent potentially more serious injuries. Subsequent medical examinations confirmed that neither player had suffered a significant injury. Eric Garcia cut his time with Spain short due to a discomfort. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images) This is the approach Barcelona want to maintain: minimise risks in the interests of the club and the team. With a demanding season ahead, that discipline could make a significant difference to their chances of competing for every major trophy. A demanding run of five matches in two weeks Barcelona now face a particularly challenging spell, with five matches scheduled across two weeks. Between Saturday’s game against Getafe and the Clasico on 25 October, they must also negotiate difficult away fixtures against Real Betis, Galatasaray and PSG. Flick and his staff intend to manage the workload through a rotation policy designed to keep the squad fresh throughout this demanding run. That should create opportunities for players who have had fewer minutes during the first months of the season, including Gavi, Balde, Brian Farinas and Gabriel Jesus, starting with tomorrow’s game against Getafe . Amidst all this, the message within the dressing room remains consistent. Every player must stay prepared, maintain their fitness and be ready to contribute when the team selection changes.