Marc Bernal talks Pedri, Gavi, De Jong, Flick, Barcelona first-team breakthrough, injury ordeal | OneFootball

Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal recently spoke to ARA, reflecting on the difficult year he faced after suffering an ACL injury against Rayo Vallecano, which kept him out for over a year.

Now back in training and gradually returning to competitive football, Bernal discussed the mental and physical challenges of his recovery, his admiration for teammates and role models, and his perspective on Barcelona’s current squad.

When asked about the hardest moment during his long injury, Bernal explained that the first night and the period immediately after the operation had been the toughest.

“I would say the first night. It was very long. And after the operation, too. You can’t walk, you can’t do anything.

“I couldn’t even change myself! It’s been a month and a half since it became very hard.

“Gavi had already warned me that this would happen: that at first it was very hard, but that later, on the field, running, doing exercises with the ball… I would feel like a capable person.”

The young midfielder was then asked about his current progress and how he is adjusting to returning to competitive football after being out for over a year.

“Yes, it’s been a tough period. Now I need to regain my natural playing rhythm, and that’s what I’m working on currently.”

Looking back at the injury and rehabilitation

Marc Bernal was injured against Rayo Vallecano. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

He reflected on the moment of injury during the Rayo Vallecano match, describing the immediate fear when he felt something abnormal in his knee.

“The moment it happened, I felt something in my knee that wasn’t normal. Not being able to walk made me think the worst right away.

“Because there are people who suffer tears and can continue walking. However, I immediately felt that ‘something happened here.’ In the following days, it was confirmed.”

When learning the full severity of the injury, Bernal admitted that his first thought was the possibility of being out for an entire year without playing football.

“The first thing that came to mind was that I would be out for a whole year without doing what I love most, which is playing football.”

Discussing his progress before breaking into the first team, he recalled how the injury came just as he had begun playing regularly in La Liga.

“Yes, exactly. I had played three games as a starter in La Liga. You’re living something you can’t quite believe, and then comes the day of the Rayo game, which was almost over, and this happens to me.

“You go from being at your best to feeling absolutely terrible. No one realizes how difficult this injury is until they go through it. Everything I went through was very difficult.”

Bernal also recounted the recovery process immediately after the operation, when he stayed in a hotel for over a month and a half and relied heavily on his mother for support.

“When I had the operation, I stayed in the hospital for one day, and of course, I couldn’t get out of bed or walk… I couldn’t move.

“At that time, I was living in La Masia, and we decided it would be best to go to the hotel in front of it.

“My mother was with me throughout this period, which was very difficult, and she was my unconditional support. I couldn’t even take a shower. I couldn’t do anything.”

On his rehabilitation process, Bernal explained that returning to La Masia allowed him to regain mobility and gradually adjust to training.

“When I was able to start putting my feet on the ground, I returned to La Masia.

“We thought it was no longer necessary to stay at the hotel, because I was able to do more things, and the situation had changed.

“It was still difficult, but it was no longer like it was at the beginning. My legs were able to do more, and the situation was different.”

He confirmed that the injury no longer affects him on the field.

“Yes, it’s already in the past. When I play I don’t think about it. It was something that worried me, whether I would have any discomfort or not. But for now, zero.”

On Hansi Flick

Marc Bernal has now returned to action. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Bernal spoke about the encouragement he received from Hansi Flick, who even gave him a book about mentality to help him during recovery.

“It was about mentality. That was after the operation, when some teammates came to see me. Flick, too. He has always been very close.

“He has been asking me how my recovery was going and has been very interested in me. I didn’t expect it.”

When asked about Flick’s strictness, Bernal described his mentality and punctuality.

“Yes, he is. He has a different mentality from ours and has changed a lot of things. But I think that, when it comes to punctuality, he is good. Out of respect for everyone in the locker room.”

Reflecting on Barcelona’s recent form, he acknowledged the team had two tough defeats against PSG and Sevilla but felt the international break provided a chance to reset.

“I think we can all have bad days. It’s true that we have to improve, even winning. But after all, I think this international break has been good for us to relax a bit.

“I’m sure we’ll get through it. Starting with this weekend’s game.”

Team unity and playing position

Bernal praised the team’s unity and the overall quality of players. “I highlight, above all, what we are as a team.

“We are very united and this ends up being demonstrated on the pitch. And the quality of the players, which is brutal.”

When asked about the difficulty of the pivot position, Bernal said he feels comfortable in both single and double pivot roles and can adapt to different situations.

“Maybe from the outside it looks like that. I look at it from the inside and think that if I play as a six, it’s easier for me than if, for example, they put me as a winger.

“I couldn’t tell you. I feel comfortable like that.”

Bernal’s inspirations

Marc Bernal admires Sergio Busquets. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

He also shared his admiration for Busquets, though he only occasionally communicates with him.

“I pay attention to him, yes, but I don’t have contact with him. He only sent me a message when I got injured: he gave me some advice and wished me a good recovery.”

Bernal highlighted other players he studies for inspiration, both in his team and in his position nationally, noting Frenkie, Pedri, Olmo, Rodri, and Zubimendi.

On Frenkie’s criticism, he was clear it was undeserved. “I think that everything that is said about him is a complete lie.

“Criticism? I see him train and I see him play, and it’s a pass.

“And it’s not just me, we’ve talked about it with some of our teammates, who in the first few days were promoted to the first team and he was the one who surprised us the most,” he concluded.