Jules Kounde is Barcelona's most used outfield player since the World Cup
Ter Stegen has played the most minutes overall and De Jong completes the podium
Centre-back Jules Koundé is Barcelona's most used outfield player since the World Cup with a total of 1,418 minutes out of a possible 1,680 (84.4%), close behind goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen, who with 1,470 minutes (87.5%) only missed the Copa del Rey matches against Intercity and Ceuta.
When asked about the half-time substitution of Frenkie de Jong against Valencia, coach Xavi Hernandez admitted that the midfielder is suffering from hamstring discomfort and that other players in the squad are also suffering from discomfort or fatigue. In this sense, the free midweek Barcelona have is a relief.
It is De Jong who closes the podium of most used outfield players after the World Cup with 1,214 minutes (72.3%), just behind another midfielder, Pablo Páez 'Gavi', who accumulates 1,299 minutes (77.3%).
In addition to those four, there are five other Barcelona players who have played more than 1,000 minutes since the Catalan team restarted club competitions with the LaLiga derby against Espanyol on Dec. 31.
They are centre-back Ronald Araujo, with 1,140 minutes; midfielder Sergio Busquets, with 1,118; centre-back Andreas Christensen, with 1,116; winger Raphinha, with 1,099; and striker Robert Lewandowski, with 1,094.
The LaLiga Santander 'pichichi' would most likely have accumulated considerably more minutes if he had not been suspended for three games and had not suffered the overload in the biceps femoris of his left leg that is currently keeping him out.
Other Barcelona players who would also get more minutes than they have are midfielder Pedro González 'Pedri' (931 minutes) and winger Ousmane Dembélé (563 minutes), both of whom have been out injured for weeks.
Since the World Cup, Xavi has used 24 players in the 18 matches Barcelona have played. And there are names that are striking for how little they have played. This is the case of Jordi Alba, fourteenth (675 minutes); Ferran Torres, fifteenth (646); Ansu Fati, sixteenth (634), and Eric Garcia, nineteenth (455).
Most used Barça players since World Cup (1,680 possible minutes):
1. Ter Stegen (1.470 minutes)
2. Koundé (1.410 minutes)
3. Gavi (1.299 minutes)
4. Frenkie de Jong (1.214 minutes)
5. Araujo (1.140 minutes)
6. Sergio Busquets (1.118 minutes)
7. Christensen (1.116 minutes)
8. Raphinha (1.099 minutes)
9. Lewandowski (1.094 minutes)
10. Pedri (931 minutes)
11. Balde (897 minutes)
12. Kessie (838 minutes)
13. Sergi Roberto (691 minutes)
14. Jordi Alba (675 minutes)
15. Ferran Torres (646 minutes)
16. Ansu Fati (634 minutes)
17. Dembélé (563 minutes)
18. Marcos Alonso (538 minutes)
19. Eric Garcia (455 minutes)
20. Iñaki Peña (210 minutes)
21. Bellerín (172 minutes) *
22. Pablo Torre (118 minutes)
23. Memphis (82 minutes) *
24. Alarcón (30 minutes)
*Left Barça in January
