Hansi Flick unwilling to take any risks with injured Barcelona duo before Inter Milan clash | OneFootball

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is taking a cautious stance on the fitness of Robert Lewandowski and Alejandro Balde, refusing to take any unnecessary risks with the duo ahead of the crucial second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan.

Barcelona’s 3-3 draw against Inter in the first leg exposed several cracks in the team, both tactically and physically.

Jules Kounde picked up an injury that has now ruled him out of the return leg, and Lamine Yamal also experienced discomfort during warm-up, an alarming sign for a squad already navigating a thin line between competitiveness and collapse.

Flick will not risk anything or anyone

In light of these concerns, Flick is determined to err on the side of caution. The German manager has a firm rule when it comes to injured players: no player should return to action without being 100% ready, even if it means sacrificing a place in a Champions League final.

That rule applies to both Lewandowski and Balde, neither of whom have fully recovered.

Hansi Flick will not take any risks with Balde and Lewandowski. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

The left-back, perhaps the more optimistic of the two regarding his return, remains a major doubt.

While he had been targeting the Inter clash as a possible comeback, his absence from the squad against Real Valladolid this weekend would strongly indicate that he’s not yet match-ready and would be unlikely to feature in Milan.

Flick and the medical staff are keeping a close watch and are not ruling out a late change, but nothing will be forced.

As for Lewandowski, he was initially being prepped to return for the Clasico on May 11. However, it now appears unlikely that he will feature against Inter unless there is a dramatic improvement over the weekend.

His physical condition is still not deemed ideal, and with the possibility of a Champions League final on May 31, Barcelona cannot afford to jeopardise his long-term availability.

A final decision on both players will be made on Sunday following their progress and response to training. But as it stands, Flick is prioritising the bigger picture, choosing to preserve his players rather than risk aggravating their conditions.