Barcelona coach Flick urges Rashford to step up after Raphinha injury
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick mentioned he gave Raphinha day off to clear his thoughts after he was left devastated by his current injury, 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 will miss the upcoming trilogy of matches towards Atlético Madridtogether with the Champions League quarterfinal tie, and would even be sidelined for a possible semifinal.
“It’s not the best moment for this injury, for us or for him,” Flick mentioned in a information convention forward of Saturday’s go to to Atlético in LaLiga.
“He was sad about this and we’re not happy.”
It’s 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 sport towards France in Boston and, together with sporting director Deco, made the choice to let him spend a while again in his homeland.
“I talked to him on FaceTime and he was very disappointed, very down, so I decided with Deco that [he could spend time in Brazil]”Flick mentioned.
“Normally we want the players here, but he’s in good hands and maybe he can clear his mind, come back this weekend and start on Monday.
“This is why I gave him some days in Brazil along with his household, to clear his thoughts. It was clear for us.”
Raphinha could return for the Classic against real Madrid on May 10 at Spotify Camp Nou, but in the meantime Rashford may get a chance to convince Barça to take up their option to make his loan permanent for €30 million ($34.6m) this summer.
Due to Raphinha’s form and his own injury problems, the england forward has started just one of Barça’s last 10 games, but after featuring twice for his country this week he could start at 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.
“In the final weeks he had some issues, he was injured, we had to take care about that. It’s probability now for him to present once more, however we’ve got different choices [to replace Raphinha].
“Fermin [López] can play there; Gavi can also play there. I’m completely satisfied Gavi is again on this stage. We will see. “We have extra choices.”
Flick additionally mentioned that Jules Koundé, Alejandro Balde and Eric Garcia have all recovered from knocks and can be found to face Atlético, though Frenkie de Jong will not return to training until next week.
Barça go into the final stretch of the season sitting top of LaLiga, four points clear of Real Madrid, with Atlético fourth, 16 points off the pace.
Saturday’s meeting between the two teams is the first of three in 11 days, with Barça welcoming Atlético in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie on Wednesday and the second leg taking place in Madrid the following Tuesday.
The winners will face either Arsenal or Sporting Club within the semi-final.
