Barcelona confirmed on Monday that forward Raphinha will miss Tuesday’s Copa del Rey tie with Albacete and will be out for at least a week with an adductor injury, and his coach is not happy about it.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Hansi Flick was clearly not satisfied with the situation and seemed to indicate the coaching and medical staffs will have to adjust their plans to make sure Raphinha remains fit for the rest of the season.
“Honestly, I’m not happy with this situation. We will
have to see what needs to be changed and what he has to change. We are at an important moment and we need him. It is not good for us that he is not available.”
There have been reports over the last month which claim that the Brazilian has been on a specific training program to manage a muscle issue that he picked up after returning from a two-month absence for a hamstring injury earlier in the season, and his minutes have been carefully managed since the start of the year to make sure he’s available for every game.
But it seems that some tweaks might be needed, and Flick will certainly be watching the situation closely to ensure all steps are taken to have Raphinha ready to play again as soon as possible.
