Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has cast doubt on Raphinha’s fitness for the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico Madrid.
The Brazilian international did not play against Girona on Saturday, and before the match, Flick said fatigue was the reason for his absence from the starting lineup.
Raphinha remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes, contrary to expectations, raising concerns about an injury rather than just fatigue.
Flick responded to reporters’ questions after the match, “I think Raphinha is feeling more discomfort than an injury.”
He added, “I spoke to him at halftime and double-checked whether he was fit to play. That’s what I always do with the players. He was honest and said he wasn’t feeling well.”
He continued, “Now we have tomorrow and the day after, and then he’ll return to training. We hope he feels better before the match. Maybe he’ll be ready for Wednesday.”
The first leg between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Olimpico Lluís Companys ended in a 4-4 draw, leaving the Catalans to return from the Spanish capital with a victory to reach the Copa del Rey final.
