Barcelona’s week has been anything but ordinary after their crushing defeat to Real Madrid at the weekend.
The Catalan giants are under immense pressure to bounce back against Elche, a game that could define the mood around Hansi Flick’s early reign.
With growing scrutiny over player fitness and form, every training session now feels like a statement of intent.
The club’s injury list continues to pile up, leaving fans questioning whether fatigue and overuse are beginning to take their toll.
Despite the setbacks, there were glimmers of optimism at the Ciutat Esportiva as the squad reconvened with some familiar faces back in action.
However, today’s training session was overshadowed by two unexpected absences that have raised eyebrows across Spain.
Marcus Rashford and Pau Cubarsi were both missing from the group as Barcelona began preparations for Sunday’s clash with Elche, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The English forward, who joined Barca in a high-profile move that stunned the Premier League, was notably absent, but with the club’s permission.
Marcus Rashford has reportedly travelled back to Manchester during his rest day, sharing a series of Instagram stories showing him putting in solo work at a local gym.
While the move appears to be routine recovery training, it has sparked conversation about his ongoing adaptation under Flick and his recent dip in consistency.
As for young defender Pau Cubarsi, his absence remains unexplained, though it was also authorised by the club.
The teenager has been a key figure this season, and his situation will be monitored closely ahead of the weekend.
Meanwhile, Pedri has become the latest name added to Barcelona’s worrying injury list.
The midfielder trained alone indoors, continuing his recovery from a recent setback, while several other sidelined players remained unavailable.
There was, however, positive news for the Blaugrana faithful, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo returned to full training.
Lewandowski is expected to feature against Elche, while the medical staff are taking no chances with Olmo due to his recurring injury issues.
Goalkeeper Joan Garcia also began light work on the pitch as part of his rehabilitation, joining the likes of youth players Diego Kochen, Eder Aller, Jofre Torrents, Dro, Toni Fernandez, and Xavi Espart, who all trained with the senior side.
With key names missing and Elche on the horizon, Flick’s next lineup could once again test Barcelona’s depth and determination, especially with fans eager to see if Rashford’s Manchester detour will pay off on the pitch.
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