Hansi Flick has made it clear who the key players are in his game plan. The players who have accumulated the most minutes and form the backbone of the team are Jules Koundé, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Pedri, all surpassing 2,500 minutes. These players have been crucial in the way Barça plays under the German coach, and their performance has been decisive in keeping the team competitive in all competitions.
The consistency of these players reflects the trust Hansi Flick has placed in them, and their performance will be key for Barça's short and long-term goals. From there, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Íñigo Martínez, and Marc Casadó come in, all with more than 2,000 but less than the four already mentioned.
The player who plays the most with Hansi Flick at Barça
The player who has accumulated the most minutes this season is Jules Koundé, with a total of 2,812 minutes, an impressive figure that reflects his importance in Barcelona's defense. Koundé has established himself as one of the best full-backs in the world and, along with other players like Pedri and Raphinha, has been an essential part of Barça's backbone.
However, the French player doesn't have a reliable replacement within the squad, and that has led Hansi Flick to rely too much on his starting role. The only substitute Barça has in that position is Héctor Fort, but the German coach doesn't consider him a reliable option. This puts Koundé in a delicate situation, as injuries or physical wear could be a factor to consider if he isn't given a rest.
Deco's plan in the summer
In this regard, Barça is clear about which positions to strengthen next transfer market. First, the priority will be to sign a standout winger or a center forward who can offer more versatility in attack. Thus, the favorites to fill that vacancy are Rafa Leão, for the wing, and Viktor Gyökeres.
Secondly, Barcelona is also looking to strengthen the right-back position. The lack of depth in that position has been an evident problem for the team, and Koundé needs rotation.
The two main options Barça has
Regarding names, Alexander-Arnold seems to be out of Barcelona's reach. The right-back's contract with Liverpool is ending, but he is expected to end up at Real Madrid, leaving Barça with few options in the market.
This way, the two names that are being considered to cover this position are Marc Pubill, from Almería, and Vanderson, from Monaco, and one of them could end up at Barça. Beyond their quality, both offer the option of arriving at a reasonable cost and with the ability to quickly adapt to Flick's playing system.