Barcelona coach Hansi Flick says he feels guilty for allowing Fermín López to join Spain’s U21 team earlier this month after the midfielder was ruled out for another three weeks.
López, 21, picked up the knock while on international duty with Spain at the start of September. He returned to light training on Tuesday but has now been ruled out until October with a thigh problem.
The accident comes at the end of a summer that saw López represent his country at the European Championships and the Olympics, winning both tournaments and earning the Golden Boot at the end.
“With Fermín, it’s real,” Flick told a press conference ahead of Thursday’s Champions League game against Monaco. “The guys have two tournaments. Usually I feel guilty because I don’t talk to the coach with the U21s, because usually you have to say ‘Hey, leave him here (with Barça).’
“But I’m new (to the country). That’s not an excuse, but I feel very guilty about it.”
The loss of López – who scored 11 times in his debut campaign with the first team last season – added to Barça’s problems in midfield with Dani Olmo also out for a month after injuring his hamstring in the 4-1 win at Girona on Sunday.
Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Marc Bernal also remain unavailable in the middle of the park due to injury, but despite everything, Barcelona top LaLiga with 15 points from five games.
“Fermín is the player we need in this situation,” added Flick. “He can score goals and he is very professional. (On Tuesday), when I saw him with the doctor, it was not good. We have to take care of the players, because sometimes it is too much.
“Gavi and Frenkie are back in training but not 100%. We have to be careful.
“It will be difficult to (immediately replace) Olmo because he has quality with the ball. In front of goal, he can score goals, give the last pass and he is calm with the ball.”
Flick has called in cousins Toni and 16-year-old Guille Fernández to help deal with the injury crisis, which defender Jules Koundé believes is due to the growing number of games on the football calendar.
The France international has echoed Manchester City midfielder Rodri’s advice that players should go on strike amid concerns about the increasing workload.
“There are many factors (for injuries), but the load of the game and fatigue is one of the reasons and it doesn’t help,” Kounde said at a press conference on Wednesday.
“I agree with everything Rodri said. The calendar is getting longer every season, more games every year and less rest. But we have been saying this for years and no one listens to us, the players, who are the main actors.
“Maybe we should go on strike to make our voices heard. We have taken too many risks and more injuries, regardless of the preparation for the game.
“This year, there will be players in the Club World Cup at the end of the season as well, who can reach 70 or 80 games. It’s crazy.
“We have to organize ourselves. There are several unions, but I need one message that represents all footballers. It is something that should be discussed among the players.”
Moving forward, Ansu Fati returned to the Barça squad to face Monaco, who beat the Blaugrana 3-0 just over a month ago in the Joan Gamper Cup at the Olympic Stadium.
Flick said Fati is the man who will add more goals to the team, downplaying the importance of the defeat to Monaco and saying, after five wins in five LaLiga, his side are ready for their European bow this week.
“We showed in the last game how seriously we play and how focused we are at the start of the game,” he said. “Girona is a game at the level of the Champions League. With the ball, Girona are very good, but with our pressure, they suffered and scored four goals.
“Thursday’s match is against a very good team, they beat us in Gamper, but now it’s a new situation. It’s the best competition in the world. Everyone is ready, wants to play and hopefully goes in the right direction.
“A club like Barcelona, a big club, always wants to win the title. The Champions League is the best competition and we love all this and play at the highest level. We have to be ready to play against the best teams. If you don’t focus, you don’t 100%, you have no chance in this competition.”
