FC Barcelona have most of their starters away from the club with their international duties. Most of these players will be playing in Europe to help their countries qualify for the UEFA EURO 2024, while Raphinha will be helping Brazil qualify for the next World Cup.
One of the players about whom there were doubts whether he would be called up or not because of his physical problems is the Dane defender, Andreas Christensen. The player is not 100% fit, as has been made clear by his appearances in the team in the last few matches.
Christensen not starting against San Marino
While Xavi has been playing Christensen, the player has not been able to complete a full game and has been substituted mid-game for all the games that he started.
Xavi explained that he was replacing Christensen because of his physical issues, but this has not stopped the Danish Football Association from calling Christensen up for the qualifying games this week.
However, SPORT reports that there has been an agreement between Barcelona and the Danish federation, under which Christensen was kept on the substitutes bench, instead of in the starting line-up for the match against San Marino.
Barcelona convinced Danes to rest the defender
Barcelona and the Danish Football Federation representatives met each other at the beginning of this week. Both parties assessed Christensen’s condition and agreed that the best way forward for the defender was to sit him out for this match against San Marino.
The defender has been suffering from pain in his lower soleus since the pre-season, and this was the reason that Barcelona wanted the Danes to give the central defender some rest. The player is improving gradually, and this rest can allow him to get back to his best more quickly.
Meanwhile, Barcelona also have another of their starting center-back, Ronald Araujo, out with an injury. However, Joao Cancelo and Inigo Martinez are available to fill in the positions left vacant by these defenders in case the need arises.