Barcelona manager Hansi Flick expressed his disappointment as injuries continue to plague the team, with Marcus Rashford joining Raphinha on the sidelines ahead of Thursday’s Copa del Rey semifinal first leg against Atlético Madrid.
Rashford sustained a knee injury during Saturday’s LaLiga victory over Mallorca, and Barcelona announced that his absence for this week’s match at the Metropolitano is a precautionary measure.
“We are dealing with several issues in the squad, and now Marcus is unable to play,” Flick said during a press conference on Wednesday. “He took a hit that caused him pain, and we need to be cautious. This isn’t good news, but I have faith in my team, even if circumstances are challenging.”
Rashford, currently on loan from Manchester United, is not expected to be sidelined for an extended period. However, the timeline for Raphinha’s recovery from a thigh injury remains uncertain.
Barcelona, also missing Pedri, Gavi, and Andreas Christensen due to injuries, initially said Raphinha would be out for a week, but it has been ten days with no signs of him returning to training.
“We are taking a step-by-step approach with Raphinha’s recovery,” Flick mentioned when asked about Raphinha’s status. “We need to be cautious with him. He’s a player who consistently gives his all with high intensity in games. If he’s feeling something, we have to handle it carefully and possibly take a step back. It’s not an ideal situation, especially since we need players like him, Pedri, Gavi, Andreas, and Marcus, but we have to manage it.”
Barcelona’s journey to the Copa del Rey semifinals has seen them overcome Guadalajara, Racing Santander, and Albacete, who previously eliminated Real Madrid.
With Atlético Madrid being the first LaLiga team Barcelona faces in the competition this season, Flick dismissed suggestions that this diminished the significance of their previous victories. “Just ask Real Madrid,” he replied when questioned about the lack of encounters with top-tier teams.
The second leg is scheduled for March 3 at Spotify Camp Nou, where the winners will face either Real Sociedad or Athletic Club, who will play their first leg on Wednesday, in the final set for April.