Hansi Flick and the paradox of rotations: “It is my responsibility to protect the players”

Hansi Flick He is very clear: rotations will continue to be part of his plans. At least, at this start of the season. The German is well aware that, with so many injured among his troops, it is better to dose the minutes rather than risk increasing the infirmary list. Right now, also counting a Ter Stegen who will be out for several months, and who, most likely, would have rotated the minimum, there are six players in the dry dock: Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal (who will not play again in principle until next year), Gavi (speeds up his recovery), and Dani Olmo which should be ready after the national team break. Frenkie de Jong meanwhile, as confirmed by the coach himself, he could already have his first minutes this Tuesday against Young Boys (9:00 p.m.), in a match in which he will seek both the first victory in the Champions League, after the defeat against Monaco, like rediscovering his best feelings after the setback against Osasuna.

«I think it is my responsibility to protect the players, because they accumulate a lot of minutes, but I did not expect us to play like this. Despite everything, I have told the team that we must move forward. We play two games a week and we are on the right path,” Flick analyzed after the defeat in Pamplona. The Barça coach, in fact, if we do not count the very veteran Robert Lewandowskifielded a tremendously young team in El Sadar, with an average of almost 22 years old. He knows very well that, at these ages, footballers should not be overloaded to avoid problems that could become chronic.

That is why he preferred to leave a man on the bench. Lamine Yamal decisive in this start of the season, as well as Alejandro Baldewho suffered a serious muscle injury last season. The most veterans, of course, are not immune to overloads either. Hence, surely, the tireless Raphinha and the essential Inigo Martinez. And, also, he opted to change to Polish, even though that meant giving up a lot of gunpowder.

“No reason” to be “depressed”

Technology, already omnipresent in the world of football, is a great help in knowing what level of wear and tear players accumulate. And, of course, to also act accordingly, even though some mishaps, such as Ter Stegen’s bad fall, are completely unpredictable. For this reason, he does not rule out continuing to apply rotations this Tuesday in the Champions League.

«We will play with the team that we believe can be the best. We are confident enough to say that we always want to win. The first one was lost, but that is no reason to be depressed, because there were reasons that explain what happened. Right now, we don’t know what this new Champions League model will be like and that’s why we have to add as many points as possible,” said the coach, who also had to, of course, talk about the arrival of the Pole. Wojciech Szczesnyno matter how much he tried to save the drink.

«I’m not talking about players who are not on the team, and he is not, at the moment. What is clear is that no player has the guarantee of starting and being number one,” said the German, thus leaving the option more than ajar for the former Juventus goalkeeper to soon pass in front of a Iñaki Peña who until now had been assured that he would be the first option until the end of the season.

Deadlines with Szczesny

For now, Szczesny landed in Barcelona this Monday to pass the physical tests. And, given that he has not played since the last Euro Cup, everything suggests that his hypothetical presence between the posts will be delayed at least until after the national team break, just before the matches against Sevilla and Real Madrid in the League and the duel against Bayern in the Champions League. Or, perhaps, it may not take that long.

«I have spoken with him, but I will not say anything more. In the next few days he will sign. We’ll talk about that on Saturday. “Not now,” said the Barcelona coach, who stressed the great atmosphere that reigns in the Barça squad. «I see the players focused, they have fun, they enjoy training, I see it every day. And I enjoy working with them,” said the German.

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