Barcelona key man will not undergo surgery for issue troubling him since last season

According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen played through significant pain in his Achilles tendon for nearly the entire last season.

Throughout the previous season, Christensen started in 37 matches. He was substituted out in 26 of those games, and on 9 occasions, he was taken off at half-time.

These substitutions were not tactical choices made by Xavi, but rather a direct result of Christensen’s inability to continue playing due to the persistent pain in his Achilles tendon.

Interestingly, rather than opting for surgery, Christensen has been undergoing a conservative treatment approach to manage his condition.

Barcelona need a permanent fix

After a match against Valencia, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick spoke about Christensen’s condition.

He revealed that the Danish centre-back, who was sometimes used as a midfielder, had been enduring discomfort for a long period and was playing with considerable pain.

Flick also hinted that a more permanent solution needed to be found to address Christensen’s ongoing issues. It soon became clear that Christensen would be granted medical leave.

Following Olmo’s registration, it was disclosed that Christensen’s recovery period would be extended by four months, a timeframe typically required for recovery from Achilles tendon surgery.

Period of pain

Despite the intense pain and challenges last season, Christensen continued to play for the benefit of the team, only missing a week of action in January. However, this sacrifice has come at a cost, and now the focus is on ensuring his complete recovery.

While there has been no official talk of surgery, it’s evident that his condition was severe enough to affect his performance significantly.

Christensen’s absence has had an unintended positive side effect for Barcelona. It has opened the door for other players, such as Sergi Dominguez, to make their debuts in defence.

Additionally, young talents like Marc Bernal, Marc Casado, and Eric Garcia have had the opportunity to step up in the pivot role.

The club has now made it a priority to ensure Christensen is fully healed, so he can return to the pitch without the limitations he faced last season.