Bold headline: Barcelona’s injury woes are easing—Raphinha returns as Rashford stays out, with Pedri and Gavi on the near horizon.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick updated reporters on the squad ahead of Monday’s La Liga showdown with Girona, delivering a mix of setback and good news. The bad news: Marcus Rashford remains sidelined with a knee issue, though his condition is improving and recovery will proceed step by step. The good news: Raphinha is back in action after missing Barcelona’s previous three fixtures and is ready to contribute.
“Rashford is ruled out for tomorrow. He is much better, but it must be taken step by step. Raphinha will be able to play,” Flick said.
“I’ve always said Raphinha is incredibly important. When he’s not on the pitch, we feel the difference in training—the team’s dynamics and intensity drop. I’ve repeated it: last season, I believed he was among the best players in the world.”
Flick also offered a hopeful timeline for his midfield reinforcements. Pedri is expected back this month, while Gavi’s return requires a bit more patience. “Pedri will return this month, but with Gavi we must be careful. I liked what I saw in training. He might not be available in February, but I think by March he’ll be back,” he noted.
The anticipated returns of these key players promise a significant boost as Barcelona approaches the crucial stretch of the season, enhancing Flick’s options as the team pushes toward the business end of the campaign.
