SEVILLE, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 09: Hansi Flick, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, looks on prior to the LaLiga match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on February 09, 2025 in Seville, Spain.

The real reason why Hansi Flick chose to keep in-form Barcelona forward on the bench against Sevilla

Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images

Ferran Torres was clearly the best player for FC Barcelona as they beat Valencia in the Copa del Rey quarter-final last Thursday. The Spanish forward scored a 30-minute hat-trick in that game, after having started the game in place of Robert Lewandowski.

Thus, it was rather surprising to see him playing not even a single minute in the ensuing game against Sevilla in La Liga, which the Catalans won with a 1-4 scoreline.

Now, MARCA has explained why the Spanish forward did not step on the pitch in that game, as they report that the winger was feeling some soreness in his hamstrings as he was warming up to step into the game in the second half.

He was not meant to start this last game against Sevilla mainly because he played the full 90 minutes in the game against Valencia, and there was only a three-day gap between these two games.

Flick was earlier planning on bringing him in the second half of the game against Sevilla, as he has been one of the regular substitutes for Barcelona this season.

However, after a small conversation between the coach and the player, it was decided not to bring him on for this match, especially as Flick believes him to be an important player for the team and did not want to take any risks with him.

VALENCIA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 06: Ferran Torres of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal to complete his hat-trick during the Copa del Rey quarter-final match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona at the Estadio Mestalla on February 06, 2025 in Valencia, Spain.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

This season, the former Manchester City forward has played 25 games across all competitions, accumulating 938 minutes. In these games, he has scored 10 goals and provided 4 assists, and thus is among the highest scorers in this squad.

He also had offers to leave Barcelona in the last winter transfer window, but he rejected them all as he only wanted to succeed at the Blaugrana club. Hopefully, he will be ready for the upcoming game against Rayo Vallecano, and once again help his team with some goals.

Tags Ferran Torres