Barcelona’s Break Leaves Flick With Six Fit First-Team Players

FC Barcelona’s international break has turned into an exercise in schedule management as much as squad rotation, with Hansi Flick left overseeing a skeleton training group while the vast majority of his squad reports for national team duty. As Marca has reported, the German coach has decided to give the club’s non-international players nine full days off, running from September 26 through October 4.

According to Marca, the squad enjoyed a rest day on Sunday and Monday before returning to training on Tuesday, working through Friday. After that, the group will have the weekend off and will not need to report to the Ciutat Esportiva again until October 5, when preparations begin in earnest for the trip to face Getafe on October 10.

The scale of the shutdown reflects just how thin Flick’s available pool has become. Up to 17 Barcelona players have been called up by their respective national teams this window, a number that would have reached 18 had Andreas Christensen not been ruled out of Denmark duty by injury. That leaves Wojciech Szczesny, Gerard Martín, Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Brian Fariñas and Gabriel Jesus as effectively the only fit first-team players training under Flick during the bulk of the break, per Marca.

Barcelona’s injured contingent will not be included in the rest period. Frenkie de Jong, Joan García, Christensen and Roony Bardghji will continue with individualized recovery programs throughout the break, Marca noted. García, who is managing only mild discomfort in his right knee, is expected to be available for the Getafe fixture.

The timing is notable given how Barcelona are managing player workload across a season that already includes Champions League commitments and a congested La Liga calendar. With so few bodies available, Flick’s decision to prioritize genuine rest over forced collective sessions fits the broader pattern of his rotation and squad-management approach this season.

The break also underscores the value of squad depth heading into a demanding autumn, a theme that connects directly to the club’s ongoing work on contract renewals. Barcelona will need every available body sharp once the full squad reconvenes on October 5.