Flick’s ‘untouchables’ – Four Barcelona superstars have played every single minute this season

As Barcelona enter the new phase of the season under Hansi Flick, they will need to carefully manage the squad’s workload to avoid fatigue.

Until now, only four players have had the honour of playing every single minute of the season. These players have completed all 450 minutes from the available five matches, establishing themselves as Flick’s ‘untouchables’.

After the first five league matches, the only players who have featured for the full duration of each game are Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Jules Kounde, Inigo Martinez, and Raphinha. All other players have been substituted at least once.

Now, with the Champions League and midweek matches on the horizon, it is likely that by the end of September, only Ter Stegen will remain an automatic starter, being indispensable in his position as goalkeeper, reports SPORT.

Solid defence

For Kounde and Martinez, their continuous involvement is partly due to injuries sustained by Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo. These injuries have pushed the Frenchman and the veteran Spaniard into more prominent roles.

In Kounde’s case, his continued importance is also linked to Joao Cancelo not returning to the squad. During the recent game against Girona, Hector Fort made an appearance towards the end, but the substitution of Pau Cubarsi saw Kounde shift back to a central defensive position.

Meanwhile, Martinez has earned the trust of Hansi Flick. His performances have secured him a starting role alongside Cubarsi in the defence.

Raphinha the wildcard

In the attacking department, only Raphinha has played every minute. Under Hansi Flick, the Brazilian has taken his game to a new level, showing that he thrives when given a sense of importance.

Known for his work ethic, intensity, and now his goalscoring ability, Raphinha’s need for extended game time to find his rhythm was evident in his display at Montilivi.

The logical step would be to rest Raphinha soon, but injuries and suspensions make it more likely that he will continue to feature, especially in critical moments.

With Dani Olmo expected to miss the next two matches and Ferran Torres ruled out for Villarreal, the options in attack are limited.