"There is no denying the fact that Pedri's injury has forced Barcelona manager Hansi Flick to reassess his tactical approach ahead of a crucial run of fixtures. The midfield maestro has been ruled out for up to seven weeks, and during his absence, Barcelona will face several high-profile opponents, including Athletic Club, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid. Pedri's absence comes at a delicate time for Flick, who is eager to keep Barcelona competitive both in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League."
"As per Mundo Deportivo, Flick has already begun restructuring his midfield setup, and the plan is for Frenkie de Jong to take over Pedri's role in the upcoming fixtures. This adjustment has opened up a fierce internal competition for the pivot position, with Marc Casado, Eric Garcia, and Tommy Marques all in contention."
"Casado remains the most natural option for the role, having impressed every time he has been called upon. His calmness on the ball and tactical discipline make him a reliable presence in the middle of the park. However, Eric Garcia is another strong candidate. Although primarily a centre-back, the former Manchester City defender has previously been deployed as a defensive midfielder, and he has certainly not disappointed."
"Adding intrigue to the mix is the emergence of Tommy Marques, a promising 19-year-old who has recently been training with the senior squad in preparation for the Elche clash. Flick is said to be impressed by his work ethic and technical skills, and he intends to continue closely monitoring his development. With Pedri sidelined, Flick faces one of his toughest challenges, which is to maintain Barcelona's creative rhythm."
Pedri has been ruled out for up to seven weeks, removing a central creative option during a run of fixtures that includes Athletic Club, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid. Hansi Flick is adapting the tactical approach to preserve competitiveness in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. Frenkie de Jong is planned to occupy Pedri's role, while the pivot spot has become contested by Marc Casado, Eric Garcia, and 19-year-old Tommy Marques. Casado offers calmness and tactical discipline, Garcia provides defensive midfield experience despite being a centre-back, and Marques has impressed in training. Maintaining Barcelona's creative rhythm is Flick's primary challenge.
Read at Barca Universal
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]