Barcelona star trains away from the group but only as precaution | OneFootball

The ongoing international break has brought a mix of reduced squad numbers and careful player management at Barcelona.

In that regard, according to the official club communication, defender Eric Garcia trained away from the group as a precaution during the latest session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. 

Importantly, it must be noted that there is no injury concern surrounding the defender, and the decision has been made purely to manage his workload ahead of his expected return.

With a large number of first-team players away on international duty, those who remained in the city took part in a modified training session. 

Among them were key names like Gavi, Marc Casado, and Wojciech Szczesny, alongside several players from Barça Atletic and the U19 setup.

Is Garcia injured?

Simple answer – no.

However, Garcia’s situation required a slightly different approach. 

After being substituted during the Champions League clash against Newcastle, there were initial concerns about his condition. 

Eric Garcia did not train with the group. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

While those fears have now eased, the coaching staff has opted for caution.

Instead of joining full group training, Garcia followed an individual programme on the pitch. 

This decision is seen as a preventative measure rather than a response to any specific injury.

Barcelona are entering a decisive phase of the season, and managing player fitness is just as important as tactical preparation. 

Overloading players at this stage could lead to unnecessary setbacks, something Hansi Flick is clearly keen to avoid.

Encouragingly, reports suggest that Garcia is feeling good and progressing well. 

The issue is described as a minor overload rather than any structural injury, which significantly reduces concern around his availability.

As things stand, there is strong optimism that he will rejoin full training after the international break and be available for selection without any complications.