Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin share a remarkable injury record under Hansi Flick

Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin share a remarkable injury record under Hansi Flick Barcelona’s injury problems under Hansi Flick have made squad availability an increasingly important part of the German manager’s work.  However, a report from SPORT has highlighted two notable exceptions, namely Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin, who are the only two outfield players among 23 footballers to have avoided missing a Barcelona match through injury since the beginning of Flick’s tenure in 2024/25. While several established players, including Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Pedri, have struggled with recurring physical problems, the two defenders have maintained their availability, providing Flick with unusual continuity in a defence that has frequently required adjustments. Cubarsi and Gerard Martin provide rare injury consistency Notably, Cubarsi has featured in 117 matches since the beginning of the 2024/25 season, missing just 16 fixtures. Importantly, two of those absences were caused by suspension rather than injury. Interestingly, even an ankle problem suffered while representing Spain in March 2025 failed to keep him out of Barcelona’s matches.  Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin have never missed a game through injury for Flick. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) Gerard Martin, on his part, has also maintained an impressive record, participating in 107 matches during the same period.  He has missed 25 fixtures, all through the manager’s selection decisions rather than physical problems. The left-footed defender did suffer a metacarpal fracture, but the injury occurred after the season had concluded and therefore did not affect his availability for Barcelona. Szczesny’s record comes with an important qualification Notably, Wojciech Szczesny can technically be included among Barcelona’s injury-free players since joining the club in October 2024.  However, his situation is different because he has made only 43 appearances. Szczesny has also been fit, although he picked up the flu. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) The Polish goalkeeper also missed a Barcelona fixture because of gastroenteritis, meaning his record of avoiding injuries does not represent uninterrupted availability for selection. Nevertheless, Cubarsi and Gerard Martin stand out because their records have been maintained despite considerably greater involvement on the pitch. Christensen shows the other side of Barcelona’s injury problems At the same time, Andreas Christensen sits on the other side of the spectrum.  The Danish defender, who recently returned from injury , has accumulated 433 days on the sidelines through injuries, equivalent to more than a year away from competitive football. Understandably, his prolonged absences have deprived Flick of a reliable defensive option and prevented him from establishing consistent involvement in the team, which was one of the reasons why Gerard Martin was moved into the centre-back role from his usual left-back position.