FC Barcelona have an exciting challenge ahead as they prepare to face Borussia Dortmund in their next UEFA Champions League clash at Signal Iduna Park.
Hansi Flick has been taking proactive measures to ensure his team is in top form for this crucial encounter, as he aims to secure qualification for the knockout stages of the competition at the earliest opportunity.
One key strategy employed by the Blaugrana coach has been managing the workload of certain key players. According to SPORT, this approach has been particularly evident with Dani Olmo, whose minutes have been carefully monitored by Flick.
The Spanish midfielder was notably rested during the match against Las Palmas, a decision that proved costly as Barcelona suffered a 2-1 defeat. Similarly, Olmo was substituted in the 72nd minute against Mallorca and in the 60th minute during the match against Real Betis.
Flick’s meticulous rotation policy highlights his commitment to maintaining the squad’s fitness and sharpness for critical fixtures like the one against Dortmund.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 31: Dani Olmo of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's sixth goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Valladolid CF at Camp Nou on August 31, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
The midfielder also had to undergo an unpleasant situation in the Benito Villamarin as he lost the cover for one of his teeth in an unfortunate fall. However, he has already overcome this problem, and this will not be an issue for him in the upcoming game in Germany.
Similarly, his muscular level is also good, and thus he is quite ready to make his return to Germany, where he has already proven his talents during his time with RB Leipzig.
He rose to prominence at that club and emerged as one of the big stars of the Bundesliga in the last few years. This caused Bayern Munich to make moves for him, but he ultimately decided to don the blue and garnet shirt last summer.
In addition to this match against Borussia Dortmund, Flick will also be looking to have his midfielder in the best shape for the remaining two games in 2024, against Leganes and Atletico Madrid. However, how the midfielder performs in these pivotal matches remains to be seen.