Trouble for Flick! The 'puzzle' of FC Barcelona's defence after Christensen's injury

As if the problems in its economy that have prevented it from registering and signing players normally were not enough, FC Barcelona has received a new sporting 'blow'. Andreas Christensen was absent from training on Thursday and Friday, and this Saturday the Blaugrana club announced through its social networks that the Dane suffers from "tendinopathy in the left Achilles", which will keep him off the pitch for an estimated time of between one and two months.

The loss of the Dane is extremely sensitive for Hansi Flick, who has seen his squad go from having an 'overbooking' in the centre of defence to having just three players in the position. In addition to the injuries of Ronald Araújo, absent, in principle, until the end of this year, and Christensen, there have been the departures of Clément Lenglet and Mika Faye. The Frenchman will go on loan to Atlético de Madrid, while the Senegalese will be transferred to Rennes in search of minutes and opportunities.

In this way, the German coach only has Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez and Eric García to cover this area of ​​the field. However, the future of the latter in the Blaugrana dressing room would be in doubt, since various reports have assured that from the offices of Spotify Camp Nou they would not look unfavorably on his departure to make money, with Girona willing to make an effort and offer 20 million euros for his transfer, although the Dane's injury could change his destiny.

Despite this, it is expected that Flick will continue to bet on the duo formed by Cubarsí and Iñigo as his starting center backs. The Basque defender was on the 'ramp' at the beginning of the summer, but his performance in the preseason convinced the German and, in the absence of Andreas and Araújo, he has established himself as one of the coach's undisputed favourites, who is keeping his fingers crossed that he does not suffer another inconvenience in the position that would throw his planning for the start of the season overboard.

The 'patch' Koundé

In a scenario of extreme emergency, the option of moving Koundé to his natural position is on the table. The Frenchman has settled in at right back, but if the team requires it, he would have no problems performing in the centre of the defence. However, the absence of a guaranteed replacement for the right wing, with Héctor Fort as the only alternative given the difficulties presented in the operation of Joao Cancelo, makes this resource the least likely of all, since the '23' has shown himself to be one of the best in his position.

It seems unlikely that the Catalans will go into the market for a new defender, but the signing of a right-back is not ruled out and this would 'unblock' the option of Koundé. Until then, Hansi Flick will continue to 'get by' with the tools at his disposal, fully trusting in the explosion of a Cubarsí who will face his first season as a first-team player for all purposes, of an Iñigo Martínez who is looking for redemption and of an Eric García who hopes to take advantage of his new opportunity at the club to make a place for himself in the German's squad.