Barcelona are set to miss Marcus Rashford for their Copa del Rey game against Atletico Madrid. The English winger suffered a knee injury and will not get fit in time for the game on Thursday, February 12.
In a statement shared on Wednesday, February 11, Barcelona confirmed that Rashford will not participate in their Copa del Rey semi-final clash. The forward has pain in his left knee after picking up an issue in the win against Mallorca on Saturday.
"The first team player, Marcus Rashford, has pain in his left knee after taking a blow in the game against Mallorca on Saturday at Spotify Camp Nou. The player will miss Thursday's Copa del Rey game against Atlético Madrid."
Hansi Flick interacted with the media ahead of the game, saying that the forward was one of the absentees from his squad. He thinks he still has the players to defeat Atletico Madrid and said:
"We have some problems with the team, Marcus is not able to play either now. He got a hit, so it's painful and we have to take care. This is not good news, but I believe in my team, even if the situation is not easy."
Other than Rashford, Raphinha is also a pivotal player who will miss the game. The Brazilian player is set to sit on the sidelines, along with Pedri, Gavi, and Andreas Christensen.
"Step by step. We have to take care of him. He's a player who is always giving everything, high intensity in the game. When he feels something, we have to take care, maybe go one step back. This is the situation. Of course I am not happy because we need him, Pedri, Gavi, Andreas and Marcus, but we have to manage it. He’s feeling something in his muscles and we have to take care of his body. We have to support him and keep an eye on him."
Barcelona travel to lock horns with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the semifinal on Thursday.
Hansi Flick supports Lamine Yamal to keep getting better
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick believes Lamine Yamal is going to get better on the field. He has backed the young winger, saying the Spanish player has the hunger and said:
"He’s a great player and has everything we like in football: dribbling, one-on-one. He’s very good to watch. I’m very happy with what I see. In training, he always wants to improve, and that’s good. He has to improve, and he can improve a lot in the coming years."
Lamine Yamal has scored in each of the last seven games and has been in red-hot form for Barca.