18-year-old’s rise gives Hansi Flick a real selection headache ahead of key Barcelona return – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are heading into the most delicate stretch of the season with a genuinely difficult call to make in midfield. Frenkie de Jong is expected back after the international break, but Marc Bernal’s recent form has turned what should have been a simple return into a real selection dilemma.

According to SPORT, Frenkie is on course to be available again in time for the huge run of games against Atletico Madrid in La Liga and the Champions League. On paper, that should be a major boost. In reality, Bernal has made sure Flick now has a decision rather than an automatic answer.

Bernal’s first big strength is his positional discipline. He Bernal’s first big strength is his positional discipline. The 18-year-old has scored five times in his last nine games, which is a huge return for a midfielder playing so deep. Add to that his duel-winning ability, 54 percent overall and 56 percent in the air, and it is easy to see why Flick trusts him.

From a Barcelona perspective, that profile is extremely valuable against opponents who want to drag matches into chaos. Bernal brings order, but not passive order. He also attacks moments and gives the team edge.

Frenkie, though, offers something Bernal still cannot fully match. He still remains Pedri’s best available partner from a pure midfield pedigree perspective and the control he offers cannot be substituted by Bernal’s goals.

Thus, Flick will have to find a way to use both players at the right moments during games. When fit and firing, Frenkie still has to be one of the first names on the team sheet but let’s wait and see how the German manager goes about it.