yeah, thats an understatement. We basically have zero depth in midfield and attack. Imagine 5 injuries or suspensions to our starting midfield and attack. We will have to field Munir, Sandro, Rafinha and possibly Samper against RM or AM.
In Rijkaard's 2nd Season (when we won the title in 2005, and when we lost to Chelsea in a CL), we had 4 horrible knee injuries ALL in one Season.
First our first choice Dmc Edmilson broke his knee ligaments and was sidelined for a whole Season.
Then his substitute Thiago Motta suffered the same injury, forcing us to play Dc Marquez as a Dmc that Season, and leaving us only with Puyol and Oleguer as only 2 playable central defenders. (So, no reserve defensive midfielders and no reserve defenders available for the whole Season).
We had 4 players in the attack for 3 positions (Ronaldinho, Etoo, Guily, Larsson), and then Larsson injured his knee ligaments before a new year, leaving us with only 3 players in the attack and zero replacements. And young Iniesta had to play in the attack sometimes (Messi started to play in the next Season).
Also, a versatile squad player, midfielder, defender and a fullback Gabri, also injured his knee ligaments.
All 4 injuries happened in the first part of the Season, before Christmas, and all player were out of the whole Season.
For example, imagine huge injuries to Rakitic, Busquets, Neymar, and let's say Vidal.
Try to field a team without Raki, Busi and Ney (out for a Season).
We would need to play the whole Season with Mascherano (or Sergi Roberto)-Iniesta-Rafinha midfield, in La liga and all CL matches.
The only other option would be to play Samper sometimes, lol.
Also, imagine a midfield Roberto-Iniesta-Rafinha all the time, and attack Pedro-Suarez-Messi.
It is highly unlikely that we would win a treble with a team with 2-3 huge injuries...
