After injured playmaker Dani Olmo training on Friday morning with his teammates from Barcelona, there was some hope that he could be back in time for their next game against Leganes. Manager Hansi Flick, however, has excluded OLMO from the fight.
After the international break, Olmo took on a hamstring injury against Osasuna and was excluded for two to three weeks. In theory that would look him until the end of next week, but he could be back earlier, although a line of mind also suggests that they should keep him back.
“He will not play tomorrow, and it is better for him to stay here at home after the training these last two days. He will not play or travel,” Flick said to the press.
Barcelona comes in 13 days of five games, and one of the most important questions that Flick is confronted with is how they manage their condition in the last phases of the season in the light of fatigue. He gave little away for their trip to Leganes at 9:00 PM CEST on Saturday.
“As a coach I don't confirm anything. We have to take into account that changes have to be made because there are many games every three or four days. We think about it. It is important to give the players some rest from time to time.”
He was full of praise for director of Football Deco for his task to put together the fitness team this summer.
“I think the most important thing is to have a good physical basis. Deco has done the incredible work because he has brought in a spectacular staff. Everyone knows what we need and what the players need now. We are now in a good place. If you see a player tired, you will look at their statistics the next day and they will see which players I have tomorrow.”
On Wednesday against Borussia Dortmund, Ansu Fati returned into action for the first time in four months. However, Flick was not willing to commit himself to him for further minutes.
“We will have to see it. We will see. I can't say if Ansu can start or if he gets minutes. I can only say that he is now training at a high level. That is what we want to see from him.”
In general, however, he was satisfied with the contributions of the entire team, such as Ferran Torres, Gavi and Fermin Lopez all make the difference in recent competitions.
“It's very important. A team is not about starting eleven, but about the 26 players we have. The key to everything is that we are a team, and anyone who can play can contribute. There is no break, nothing, what is best for the coach. Everyone knows what to do.”