Flick confident Barca can deal with injury issues
Hansi Flick insists Barcelona will use "no excuses" when his injury-hit side heads to Villarreal for its next LaLiga clash.
Midfielder Fermin Lopez suffered a muscular problem in his right thigh in training, becoming the latest addition to Barca's growing list of injured absentees.
New signing Dani Olmo is sidelined for at least a month with a hamstring injury, alongside fellow midfielders Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Marc Bernal, and defensive pair Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen.
Although struggling with limited selection options because of the fitness issues plaguing his squad, Flick is adamant the LaLiga leader can adapt to find a workaround.
"When we started the season, I said there would be no excuses," Flick said. "We're going to be able to manage the game, although we'll be careful with some players carrying a lot of load.
"We'll manage this, although I'm sure that those who come on will be at 100 per cent. The medical team is helping us and we are taking special care with [Pau] Cubarsi, who has been recovering."
Barcelona has made a perfect start to the domestic season under the German, with five straight wins putting it top of the LaLiga table ahead of defending champion Real Madrid.
The only blemish on the Blaugrana's record came in a 2-1 defeat against Monaco in the UEFA Champions League opener.
"We have a great team, and we have shown it," Flick added. "Every season it's the same, there are weeks when you lose several players, but as a coach, it's something you have to accept.
"Now we have to focus on those who are available to prepare them for the next game."
Flick will at least be able to call upon returning forward Ansu Fati, who has scored four goals in six games against Villarreal in LaLiga, his most against one opponent in the competition.
Fati, along with Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski, will hope to cover the midfield void with their attacking prowess that has propelled Barcelona to success this term.
Indeed, Barcelona is the top-scoring team in Europe's top five leagues this season with 17 goals, a tally that it will aim to add to at Villarreal.
