Flick and his injury ordeal: Ferran Torres, the latest to fall

Injuries have been a real ordeal for Hansi Flick in his second season in charge of Barça. The Barça infirmary, which included players up until international duty such as Marc-André ter Stegen , whose contract was terminated in August, Gavi, Joan García, Fermín, Lamine Yamal , and Raphinha , has also been affected by the much-discussed FIFA virus.

Dani Olmo was the first to join, followed by Robert Lewandowski , both with muscle injuries and, this same Friday, the absence of Ferran Torres, who also returned early from his call-up with La Roja due to discomfort, was also revealed for this Saturday's match against Girona.

Although the Catalan club initially resisted announcing his absence, the Valencian's absence leaves Barcelona's forward line practically untouched. And not only for the match against Girona, but also for the return of the Champions League against Olympiacos next Tuesday and, above all, the Clásico against Real Madrid on October 26.

For the big clash with their eternal rivals at the Bernabéu, both the German goalkeeper, who was already urged this summer to look for a new destination before undergoing a second back operation and being ruled out with a long-term injury, and Joan García , who still has a couple of weeks left before returning between the sticks, are in principle more than ruled out. Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski will be away from the pitches in principle for three to four weeks, in accordance with the forecasts following their respective muscle injuries.

Ferran Torres , meanwhile, should be fit. In fact, his absence against Girona seems more due to caution than seriousness. Raphinha, who apparently relapsed from his problems, is now expected to be in a positive state. Fermín and Lamine Yamal , meanwhile, if everything continues as they are, could be in both the Clásico and the Girona game.

For now, neither of them has received the required medical clearance, but both have been working with the group recently, apparently at the same pace as the rest, and could be included in the squad. The question, in this case, is whether or not they would be part of the starting lineup against a Girona side that has had a tremendously erratic start to the season.

In the case of Lamine Yamal , Flick will be treading carefully. Right now, the German technically only has one first-team striker in perfect condition: Marcus Rashford . On paper, Swede Roony Bardghji is registered with the reserve team, although he has yet to play a single minute under Juliano Belletti , nor does it seem likely that he will do so this season, so his name must also be added to that of the Englishman. The need to beat Olympiacos in the Champions League, after the home defeat to PSG, and the significance of the Clásico will lead him to regulate both Fermín and the player from Rocafonda, even starting them off the bench.

" Lamine and Fermin are back, and they won't be able to play the full 90 minutes. We have to manage it, that's our job. If we're at our best, we can beat anyone. The important thing is how we start and fighting from the outset," said the coach, who emphasized, more vehemently than usual, that no one intervened to ensure the young Barça star started against PSG.

He responded this way because he usually punishes any player who arrives late to any meeting called by the coaching staff with a substitute, and allegedly, the youth player was late to the pre-match talk with the Parisians. "I'd like to know where that rumor comes from. It's bullshit. It's not true. At this club, I have a real relationship with Deco and the rest of the professionals. I believe in my work, I have confidence in myself, and they wouldn't ask us for something like that. This rumor is rubbish. Whoever said it lied," the German stated.