Barcelona coach shares his thoughts on Rodri and Pedri playing together this season

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Barca News Network

·26 August 2026

Barcelona coach shares his thoughts on Rodri and Pedri playing together this season

FC Barcelona will be fully committed to winning titles this season irrespective of whether or not more signings end up arriving. After all, if the first La Liga game against Elche was an indication of anything at all it was that Hansi Flick’s team has more than enough quality to still be effective.

Fortunately, they also have a summer signing who is set to make his debut against Athletic Club in Barça’s upcoming game. Rodri, signed from Manchester City this summer, will be making his debut for Barcelona in their next game against Athletic Club according to Hansi Flick.

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Moreover, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Flick was asked about the idea of Pedri and Rodri playing together this season ahead of the game and just how they would be making that partnership work. To that question, the Barcelona coach responded with both excitement and even put Marc Bernal into the mix:

“We also have Bernal. Rodri has more experience and is a complete leader. With Pedri, we’ll be able to control the game and the ball. Against Elche, we lost possession too quickly, and when Pedri came on, the game changed. We controlled the ball more, and that’s what we need.”

Flick made sure to end that comment on the note that he remains eager to see both of his elite midfielders operating together in the near future:

“Rodri is one of the best, and we’ll see how things work alongside Pedri. I’m looking forward to seeing them play together at Barça. They’ll be at a top level.”

However, it seems to be far too early to expect Rodri to start for Barcelona. He will likely get minutes off the bench in the upcoming game, but Pedri will likely be starting the match considering Gavi’s unavailability