Raphinha and Eric Garcia have led by example in this new mindset. Raphinha, who battled a right thigh problem last season after international duty, asked to be substituted at half-time during Brazil’s match with Australia upon feeling discomfort, before returning to Spain for assessment. Eric Garcia also acted conservatively, withdrawing during Spain’s warm-up for a match and returning to Barcelona for medical checks. In both cases, the medical staff confirmed there were no significant injuries, reinforcing the club’s emphasis on prioritising long-term fitness over short-term risk.
Looking ahead, Barcelona face a demanding run of five matches in two weeks, starting with Getafe and concluding with a Clasico on October 25, with challenging away fixtures at Real Betis, Galatasaray, and PSG in between. To manage the workload, Flick and his team plan to rotate more, giving minutes to several players who have had fewer opportunities this season, including Gavi, Balde, Brian Farinas, and Gabriel Jesus, beginning with the upcoming clash against Getafe. The overarching message from the dressing room remains: stay prepared, maintain conditioning, and be ready to contribute when called upon.
