They are paying the consequences of the lack of leaders, players with good technique and confidence in the youngsters. In Italy, Lamine Yamal and Musiala would probably play in Serie B to gain experience. And that can't be.
"That's just how I was raised. I feel like Northwood, the basketball gym felt like my home since I'm there so much, before, during and after school... I just wanted to help out. That was really it."
I'm very happy. We knew how important these three points were, especially as this match came after the international break. It's difficult to manage because we had a lot of players involved, most of them had travelled and played matches. It was the moment to win these three points.
"You're going a bit too far with Julian Alvarez. He's an Atletico player and has a long-term contract with Atletico Madrid," Cerezo said, as quoted by SPORT.
Raphinha's absence is a significant blow for Hansi Flick, given how central the Brazilian winger is to the team's attacking structure. In the 15 matches Raphinha has missed this season due to injury or rest, Barcelona have recorded nine wins, five defeats, and one draw - a return that shows a noticeable drop in consistency without him on the pitch.
The ongoing discussions regarding future structural changes to the game, such as the introduction of new tournaments (eg. Fifa Club World Cup), further intensify this challenge. These changes have the potential to significantly reduce the downtime available to elite players, affecting their recovery and overall well-being.