Barcelona manager Hansi Flick confirmed that Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez will be part of the squad for the upcoming clash against Girona. However, both players will not be rushed into playing the full 90 minutes as they are still managing their recovery and match fitness. Flick made it clear in his pre-match press conference that the duo's involvement will be limited, which means they are likely to come off the bench later in the game.
Part of the problem is that virtually all of the players are called up for international duty. This increases the risk of muscular fatigue, which is the culprit for most of the injuries, making it even more necessary for the coaching staff to have depth they can turn to and rely on. It also asks the questions of the manager and the medical staff. Most of the players at Barcelona are experiencing short term injuries.
When Liverpool broke the bank this summer to sign Florian Wirtz, many wondered whether Dominik Szoboszlai's starting spot was suddenly under threat. After all, Wirtz is a high-profile No. 10, a position that Szoboszlai often occupied. Yet, the Hungarian international, who scored eight goals and notched eight assists across all categories of matches last season, made it clear he wasn't stepping aside so easily.