Barcelona manager Hansi Flick bemoaned more bad news after Marcus Rashford joined Raphinha on the injured list for Thursday's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid.
Rashford suffered a knock to his knee during Saturday's LaLiga match against Mallorca and Barca say he will miss this week's trip to the Metropolitano as a “precaution.”
“We have some problems with the team, Marcus can't play now either,” Flick said at a press conference on Wednesday.
“He took a hit, so it's painful and we have to be careful. It's not good news, but I believe in my team, even if the situation is not easy.”
Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, is not expected to be out for a significant period but uncertainty remains over when Raphinha will return from a thigh problem.
Barça, who will also be without Pedri, Gavi and Andreas Christensen due to injury, said that the Brazilian would be out for a week, but that was 10 days ago and there are still no signs of him returning to training.
“Step by step,” Flick added when asked about Raphinha's recovery. “We have to take care of him. He is a player who is always giving everything, with a lot of intensity in the game.
“When he feels something, we have to be careful, maybe take a step back. This is the situation. Of course I'm not happy because we need him, Pedri, Gavi, Andreas and Marcus, but we have to manage it.”
Barça has reached the semifinals of the Cup, beating Guadalajara, Racing de Santander and Albacete, who had eliminated Real Madrid in the previous round.
Atlético, therefore, will be the first LaLiga team they face in the competition this season, although Flick shot down the idea that devalues what has been achieved so far.
“Ask Real Madrid,” he joked when asked if not facing top-flight rivals until now downplayed the importance of his cup streak.
The second leg will not be played until March 3 at Spotify Camp Nou, and the winners will face Real Sociedad or Athletic Club in the final in April, who will play their first leg on Wednesday.
