Why Hansi Flick must rest 25-year-old fan-favourite against Racing Santander | OneFootball

Barcelona’s upcoming Copa del Rey round of 16 clash against Racing Santander presents the ideal opportunity for rotation, and all signs suggest that Hansi Flick is fully aware of it. 

With a long and demanding second half of the season ahead, managing minutes is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity. 

As such, no player embodies that reality more clearly than Eric Garcia, whose season has been nothing short of extraordinary in terms of availability and commitment. 

Ever-present for Flick

To put things in perspective, the 25-year-old is the only Barcelona player to have featured in every single match so far. 

That’s 28 appearances out of 28, with 27 of those coming as a starter. Not even a seemingly low-risk fixture away against CD Guadalajara, against a side two divisions below Barcelona, earned him a rest. 

On that occasion, the match looked perfectly suited for heavy rotation, yet Eric was still on the pitch.

What makes this run even more remarkable is the fact that Eric has not been confined to one role. 

He has often been used as a central midfielder, shifted back into central defence when needed, and even filled in at right-back. 

Eric Garcia needs rest. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

This tactical flexibility has made him invaluable to Flick, but it has also turned him into a victim of his own reliability.

The most striking example of his commitment came after he fractured his nose against Club Brugge. 

Just three days later, the former Manchester City player was back on the pitch against Celta Vigo, wearing the protective mask that has since become instantly recognisable. 

A well-deserved rest

This is exactly why the Racing Santander match matters so much. If Eric is to remain a key piece for the rest of the campaign, then this is the moment to stop, breathe, and rotate. 

Flick needs him fit, sharp, and mentally fresh when the decisive stages of the season arrive. 

Leaving him on the bench in Santander would not be a sign of weakness, but of smart management.

Notably, last season offered a clear warning, as too many important players accumulated excessive minutes, and by the final stretch, fatigue was evident. 

Performances dipped, intensity dropped, and the team paid the price. Flick has the chance to avoid repeating that mistake.