Hansi Flick being extra cautious with Barcelona prodigy’s minutes after lengthy absence | OneFootball

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has made it clear that changes are coming when his side faces Guadalajara in the Copa del Rey opener. 

With fixture congestion and recovery management at the forefront of his thinking, rotation is expected across the pitch. 

While much of the attention has understandably focused on the goalkeeping situation and Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s role, there is another name quietly generating intrigue behind the scenes – Marc Bernal.

Will he feature?

According to SPORT, the young midfielder remains one of the most carefully managed players in Flick’s squad, and his potential involvement against Guadalajara is far from straightforward. 

Bernal has not featured in Barcelona’s last two matches and his absence is not linked to form or tactical dissatisfaction, but rather to a cautious approach being taken by the coaching staff.

What makes the situation particularly interesting is that Bernal’s most recent appearance was arguably his most impressive of the season. 

Against Real Betis, the midfielder was introduced for just 27 minutes, yet made a striking impact. 

Bernal’s appearance vs Guadalajara is still uncertain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

That performance evoked memories of Bernal’s initial breakthrough with the first team last season, when his fearlessness and technical quality quickly caught the eye. 

Flick wants precaution

However, the reality of his recent history cannot be ignored, as Bernal is still on a carefully monitored recovery path following a serious knee injury.

Flick, in that regard, has been clear in his desire to protect the player from setbacks. 

The manager’s approach has been methodical. Rather than exposing Bernal to consecutive high-intensity matches, the coach has chosen to reintroduce him gradually. 

This explains why predicting his role against Guadalajara is difficult. The Copa del Rey offers an opportunity for minutes, but not at the expense of long-term development.

From Flick’s perspective, Bernal is not a short-term solution, but an investment. The aim is not just to get him back on the pitch, but to ensure he returns stronger and more resilient.