Flick 'very responsible' over Fermín damage with Spain

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick mentioned he feels responsible for letting Fermín López be part of up with Spain U21s earlier this month after the midfielder was dominated out for an additional three weeks.

López, 21, picked up a knock whereas on worldwide responsibility with Spain initially of September. He returned to mild coaching on Tuesday, however has now been dominated out till October with a thigh drawback.

The spate of accidents come on the again of a summer time which noticed López symbolize his nation within the European Championships and the Olympic Video games, profitable each tournaments and claiming the Golden Boot on the latter.

“With Fermín, it is an actual pity,” Flick mentioned in a information convention forward of Thursday’s Champions League recreation towards Monaco. “The man had two tournaments. Usually I really feel a bit responsible as a result of I have never spoke with the coach with the U21s, as a result of usually it’s a must to say ‘Hey, go away him right here [with Barça].’

“However I’m new [in the country]. It is not an excuse, however I really feel very responsible about that.”

The lack of López — who scored 11 instances in his debut marketing campaign with the primary staff final season — provides to Barça’s issues in midfield with Dani Olmo additionally dominated out for a month after injuring his hamstring in Sunday’s 4-1 win at Girona.

Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Marc Bernal additionally stay unavailable in the course of the park resulting from accidents, but regardless of all that, Barcelona high LaLiga with an ideal 15 factors from 5 video games.

“Fermín’s a participant we’d like on this state of affairs,” Flick added. “He can rating objectives and he’s very skilled. [On Tuesday], once I noticed him with the physician, it was not good. Now we have to maintain the gamers, as a result of typically it is an excessive amount of.

“Gavi and Frenkie are again in coaching however they don’t seem to be 100%. Now we have to take care with them.

“Will probably be tough to [directly replace] Olmo as a result of he has high quality with the ball. In entrance of purpose, he can rating, give the final cross and he is calm with the ball.”

Flick has known as up 16-year-old cousins Toni and Guille Fernández to assist take care of the damage disaster, which defender Jules Koundé believes is right down to the rising variety of video games on the soccer calendar.

The France worldwide echoed Manchester City midfielder Rodri‘s suggestion that gamers might need to go on strike due to considerations over their growing workload.

“There are various factors [for the injuries], however the load of video games and fatigue is without doubt one of the causes and doesn’t assist,” Kounde mentioned in a information convention on Wednesday.

“I agree with all the pieces Rodri mentioned. The calendar is getting longer each season, there are extra video games yearly and fewer relaxation. However we’ve been saying this for years and nobody listens to us, the gamers, who’re the primary actors.

“Maybe we have to go on strike to make our voices heard. We’re already taking too many dangers and there are increasingly more accidents, no matter how effectively we put together for video games.

“This 12 months, there might be gamers within the Membership World Cup on the finish of the season, too, who may attain 70 or 80 matches. It is loopy.

“We have to organise ourselves. There are a number of unions, however I feel we’d like one message that represents all footballers. It is one thing we should focus on among the many gamers.”

Additional ahead, Ansu Fati returns to the Barça squad to face Monaco, who beat the Blaugrana 3-0 simply over one month in the past within the Joan Gamper Trophy on the Olympic Stadium.

Flick says Fati is somebody who will add objectives to the staff, performed down the importance of that defeat to Monaco and mentioned, after 5 wins in 5 in LaLiga, his staff are prepared are prepared for this week’s European bow.

“We confirmed in current matches how severe we play and the way centered we begin video games,” he added. “Girona was a match at Champions League stage. With the ball, Girona are superb, however with our stress, they suffered quite a bit and we scored 4 objectives.

“Thursday’s match is towards an excellent staff, they beat us within the Gamper, however now could be a brand new state of affairs. That is the perfect competitors on the earth. Everybody is prepared, desires to play and hopefully it goes in the appropriate route.

“A membership like Barcelona, massive golf equipment, all the time need to win titles. The Champions League is the perfect competitors and we take pleasure in all this and play on the best stage. Now we have to be able to play towards the perfect groups. If you’re not centered, not 100%, you don’t have any likelihood on this competitors.”