Hansi Flick should really start 17-year-old Barcelona starlet against Girona — Opinion | OneFootball

FC Barcelona did not have the best time before the international break, losing two consecutive games, against PSG in the Champions League and Sevilla in La Liga. Hansi Flick will be keen to return to winning ways in the game against Girona.

However, things are not straightforward for the German tactician. Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, and Lamine Yamal are all injured and currently recovering. The latter two are expected to make the bench against Girona.

Meanwhile, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, and Robert Lewandowski suffered fresh issues during the international break. The latter two are ruled out of the game against the Catalan rivals, with the Shark the only one with a chance to make it.

Yesterday, we covered a story that Flick is considering starting Fermin against Girona, despite the fact that he is returning from injury. However, that is not advisable, especially with important games like El Clásico on the horizon.

Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Taking that into account, Hansi Flick should really start Dro Fernandez, the 17-year-old La Masia gem, in the No. 10 role against Girona. The German coach has already given the youngster his first start and needs to persist with him.

There is some pressure on Barcelona to get a win against Girona, but that should not stop Flick from trusting in Dro. Rather than risking Fermin from the start when he is returning from injury, the teenager can certainly do a job there.

Dro is extremely technical and has exceptional quality on the ball. He has the associative ability expected of La Masia graduates, and his passing vision makes him an ideal candidate to replace Olmo in the No. 10 position.

Physically, Dro seems to have some way to go before he is ready for the Barcelona first team, but technically, there is no doubting him. His diminutive profile allows him to dribble through tight spaces, and this could be a potent weapon against Girona’s compact block.

With Lewandowski injured and Ferran also suffering from muscular overload, the front line is wafer-thin on paper. Roony Bardghji is likely to start on the right and Marcus Rashford on the left, and Dro Fernandez should be trusted through the middle.

Let us hope Flick goes with Dro instead of Fermin for the game against Girona. It would give the 17-year-old another opportunity to catch the eye with his performance, and let us wait and see how things play out with regard to team selection this weekend.