FC Barcelona is experiencing a great sporting moment with Hansi Flick in charge. It's no wonder: so far in 2025, the team hasn't lost any matches, and the dynamic has restored hope both in the locker room and among the fans. The German coach's work is starting to bear fruit, and Barça, beyond having chances in all competitions, also competes very well.
However, not everything is perfect in the club's environment. Flick has expressed concern about the physical wear of some key players in the face of an extremely demanding schedule. Players like Pedri, Lamine Yamal, or Koundé are accumulating many minutes, and Flick knows that any physical or mental drop could be costly in the final stretch of the season.
In the Spotlight of Doubts
One of the cases that most concerns Flick these days is Raphinha's. The Brazilian winger has visibly dropped his performance and has gone from being a game-changing player to almost inconsequential in the club's recent matches. His level is far from what he showed at the beginning of the season, when he was even talked about as a possible Ballon d'Or candidate.
It's no wonder: in recent matches, his participation has been minimal or nonexistent. Against Girona and Osasuna, he didn't play any minutes on the field, and when he returned, he didn't manage to make a significant impact. The player has explained that this is due to fatigue, and Flick wants to be reassured to recover the best Raphinha.
Meeting Underway
In response to this situation, Flick decided to have a long talk with Raphinha to understand what's happening. It was more than two hours of conversation in which the coach sought to find out if there's anything beyond physical wear that might be affecting the footballer and his performance. From the club, for now, no alarms are being raised.
Both Laporta and Deco consider the drop to be temporary and a natural part of the season. At Barça, they fully trust that the player will soon rediscover his best version and regain that usual spark he has shown throughout the current season. The final stretch of the season will be demanding, and Flick needs Raphinha to return to being that player who makes a difference on the wing and constantly creates danger.