Heads and tails in Barça's 'French clan' for the Champions League

Right now all looks are put in the recovery of the 'French clan' of FC Barcelona: Antoine Griezmann, Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti and Ousmane Dembélé. In fact, they are the unique players injured from the squad, with just over fifteen days to go to play the most important game of the season: the return of the eighth final against Naples at the Camp Nou.

The less worrisome cases They are Griezmann and Lenglet. The medical services are convinced that they will be able retrieve them on time. The first, who suffered a quadriceps injury two weeks ago, went to France in the company of a club physical therapist, Xavi Elain. His intention is also visit a physio friend of the French team to complete the recovery.

With Lenglet The feelings are also very positive, since the French central defender he knew how to stop on time, asking for the change when he began to notice discomfort in the groin, which allowed the injury to go further.

With Samuel Umtiti the situation is a lot more complex. In principle, the technicians count on the Frenchman for the match against Naples. A clue to this confidence is that Quique Setién allow the branch headquarters, Ronald Araujo, I know will incorporate the subsidiary to play the 'play off'. If I believed that Umtiti does not arrive surely the defender Uruguayan would not have reinforced he Barcelona B, having then only two centrals available in case of injury: Gerard Piqué and Clement Lenglet.

He problem is that nobody knows for sure how will the knee be left on August 8 or how long it will hold. The decision of not operate in his day of Umtiti he is weighing down his career. The player started therapy almost three weeks ago. regeneration articulate based on stem cells that are expected to bear fruit in the coming days and allow you to join the training sessions with the group.

But if in previous three cases the club hopes to have them, to a greater or lesser extent, for the match against Napoli, with Ousmane Dembélé open all reservations. His recovery is slower than expected, because of the lockdown and the impossibility of being with his colleagues at not be enrolled in LaLiga, with the added 'handicap' of not play a game since eight months – on November 27 against Dortmund- and have spent five months without training with his teammates. So many negative 'inputs' make almost a chimera that the player returns on time -In addition, his background in relapses in muscle injuries does not help him either-, so today Setien does not have the French striker.

In any case, Dembélé doesn't throw in the towel -is the only player who will not vacation and will continue his recovery in the Ciutat Esportiva together with the physio Xavi Linde- with his dream of helping the team in the Champions. In his case, although it is practically ruled out for the match against Naplesyes I would travel to Lisbon if they are classified: it would be possible that he could play the final or even the semifinals if Barça goes through the rounds.