Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has confirmed that superstar winger Raphinha is on track to return for next weekend’s _El Clásico_ against Real Madrid and defended Robert Lewandowski after the Pole suffered an injury in international duty.
Raphinha has been out for the last month with a hamstring injury and is working hard to recover in time for next Sunday’s trip to the Santiago Bernabéu, and Flick confirmed that things are going according to plan for the Brazilian to be in the squad for that match.
> “We hope he’s ready for the Clásico. That’s our plan. Sometimes there are problems with the recovery process, but he’s on the right track.”
As for Lewandowski, who has been ruled out for at least four weeks with a hamstring injury of his own, Flick explained that the striker confirmed the version of the story told by Poland coach Jan Urban, who said Lewandowski did not feel any pain during the match in which he got injured, and Flick believes Lewy will be back stronger than ever given his great work ethic.
> ”Robert told me the same thing \[as the Poland coach\]. He felt fine and didn’t feel any pain. We already know that this is something that can happen with international breaks. It’s not easy for the players and it’s hurting us a lot. All the traveling they have to do, going to the Ballon d’Or gala... Raphinha is one of the most important players on the team and we miss him. He’ll be back soon. We have to manage everything well.
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> “I don’t think there’s a player who takes better care of his body than Robert, and he told me he didn’t think he had an injury. He always takes great care of himself. There’s no one his age, maybe Ronaldo, who’s in such good shape. It’s bad for us, but we have to work on this.”
Barça are currently without Lewandowski, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Joan García and Marc-André ter Stegen due to injury, while Lamine Yamal and Fermín López have just returned and must be managed very carefully.
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