Barcelona fear international break could derail Hansi Flick’s flying start

Barcelona are worried that the international break may disrupt Hansi Flick's promising start. The club entered the break in good form, but the pause has raised concerns among Flick's team. Sports informs that the extensive matches and distances covered by several players could result in setbacks. Club president Joan Laporta recently expressed frustration, stating, "This break is very bad for us; we’re in great form."

The concern is not only about losing momentum, but also about returning from the break with tired or injured players following the season's demanding start. Raphinha emerged as the biggest worry. Flick concluded a session with the small group available to him before granting the players a nine-day break, during which only a few players trained with the first team.

Raphinha was injured against Australia, raising concerns about his journey over 40,000 kilometers during the international window. The club acted quickly to ensure Raphinha returned to Spain. Barcelona will now evaluate his condition before deciding if he can resume playing when they face Getafe. Gordon and Yamal are also facing a heavy workload.

Anthony Gordon and Lamine Yamal, two of Flick's key wide attackers, have been heavily involved with their national teams. Lamine Yamal is actively playing for Spain, while Gordon has played 150 minutes across England's two matches. Yamal, too, has been given a significant role by Spain, playing the entire match at Wembley and 68 minutes against Croatia.

With England and Spain still having another game to play, their workload may increase further. Karim Adeyemi is in a different situation. The German has already returned after playing 80 minutes against the Netherlands and 75 minutes against Greece. Barcelona's primary concern now is to navigate the final international fixtures without further setbacks and return the squad in good condition for club football to resume.