The work that Hansi Flick has managed to do so far at FC Barcelona is nothing short of commendable. Despite not having too many resources at his disposal to create a strong squad, the German tactician has made the most with what he has. So far, Barcelona have four wins out of four La Liga games, and Flick deserves a lot of credit for it.
However, while Barça looks to be unable to sign any more players this summer, the Catalan giants can at least make sure that their injured stars return on time to bolster Flick’s current squad. Many of the team’s most prominent players remain out of action for now, but they may return soon.
Ansu Fati, for instance, has already returned to training on the grass and his eventual return to the deployable squad seems to now be imminent. While the young Spanish forward looks to be close to his return, it would appear that the Barcelona coach himself has an idea about the potential return of another player alongside him.
As highlighted by MARCA, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick currently expects to have both Ansu Fati and Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong available for his team and selection right after the international break that is expected to conclude before the middle of September.
However, it has also been clarified that while Flick does expect them to be available after the international break, he will not be looking to take any unnecessary risks with the duo. As most people would be aware, the injury track records of both players remain worrying and any more setbacks could be catastrophic.
In De Jong’s case, there is even the suspicion that surgery may be required ultimately to see the player fully recover. For now, this continues to be disputed by the player, and the other side of the coin is supported by those who advise him to undergo surgery in order to put these recurring ankle injuries behind him once and for all.
As for Fati, the record of his injuries is arguably even more worrying. Once the sole heir to the legacy left behind by Lionel Messi, he has seen his level and consistency decline due to constant injuries and an attack on his confidence. However, under a coach who continues to be impressed by him, he may look to make a difference for Barcelona once again.
