Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has provided an insight into the reasoning behind star midfielder İlkay Gündoğan’s absence from his matchday squad for the opening game of the campaign.
Barca, of course, are fresh off kicking the club’s endeavours for the season into gear, on Saturday night.
After making the trip to Mestalla to face off with Valencia, the Blaugrana ultimately emerged on the right side of a 2-1 result, owing to a Robert Lewandowski brace.
Playing no part in as much, however, was the aforementioned İlkay Gündoğan.
The German was a last-minute scratch from Barcelona’s travelling squad bound for Valencia, with his absence having initially been attributed to ongoing issues stemming from a head injury sustained against Monaco earlier in the week.
Such claims were subsequently thrown into doubt, however, upon Diario Sport reporting that Gündoğan was actively seeking a Camp Nou exit.
Speaking to the media on the back of his side’s opening day victory, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of his veteran midfielder’s omission was put to the aforementioned Hansi Flick.
And, in something of a cryptic response, Barca’s headmaster went on to explain:
“Gündogan had some discomfort. I spoke to him, but that stays between us, not with you…”
Conor Laird | GSFN
