Hansi Flick faces tough choice regarding Barcelona centre-back ahead of Leganes clash | OneFootball

If all the Barcelona players were flawless robots, Hansi Flick would keep fielding his best eleven. However, these players are still just human, and they have their respective limits and needs. As such, for the Barcelona coach, it is essential to understand when he can afford to give his players some extra rest.

An inability to do often leads to unwanted injuries that can then keep the players sidelined for much longer than just rest for a single game. That is why elite coaches tend to try their best in deciding when is the best time to consider rotations and give their players some extra rest.

One Barcelona player who desperately does need a break it seems is Inigo Martinez at the moment. While the player’s performances may not show any signs of him slowing down, he continues to play more minutes than most others have managed to under the German coach this season.

As a result of this, according to SPORT, Hansi Flick must now assess if he can afford to rest his 33-year-old starting centre-back in the upcoming La Liga clash against Leganes. While it would be wrong to underestimate the opposition itself, the game right after it is against none other than Diego Simeone’s in-form Atletico Madrid side.

So far this season, Martinez has been irreplaceable and untouchable for the German coach. Beyond just his undeniable defensive attributes that help out the team on the pitch, he also possesses great technical qualities that improve the way Barça builds out from the back and it is an asset appreciated both by Hansi Flick and his predecessor, Xavi Hernandez.

However, there is more to it than just the skills he provides on the ball. A natural leader, he acts as an extension of the coach on the field and almost always helps out his teammates in organizing themselves properly. When he needs to let them know to do better, he does that just as effectively as he boosts morale when they need him to.

Despite the fact that there are indeed excellent qualities, the player has barely had any rest. Injuries have plagued his career in the past and it would be best not to give them an opportunity to do so again. With only two games left in 2024, the match against Leganes and then the one against Atletico Madrid, perhaps Flick could now consider this an opportunity to give him some rest.