FC Barcelona’s injury crisis keeps growing, and this time it has affected one of Hansi Flick’s most crucial players. Pedri’s muscle injury has left the team without its main creative force, which forces the German coach to rethink his entire midfield structure.
With fifteen injuries already this season, Barcelona’s medical department is under enormous pressure. The loss of Pedri changes not only the tactical balance of the team but also the rhythm and connection in midfield. The 22-year-old is the most important structural piece of Flick’s system, linking defense and attack with precision. His absence leaves Frenkie de Jong without his best partner and removes the team’s creative heart.
The midfield puzzle and Flick’s possible solutions
Hansi Flick now faces a difficult challenge in rebuilding his midfield. With both Pedri and Gavi unavailable, the German coach must find new combinations for what he calls the “second line” of his system.
The available players are limited but still offer some variety. Flick has three central midfielders in De Jong, Casadó and Bernal, and three offensive profiles that include Fermín, Olmo and Dro. Dani Olmo is close to returning from injury, but Flick must decide who will step into Pedri’s influential role in the coming weeks.
De Jong at the center of the plan
For the next match against Elche, the most likely trio is De Jong, Casadó and Fermín, although Flick still has to define Frenkie’s exact role. He could keep him as a holding midfielder or push him slightly forward to take Pedri’s place as the main creative link.
Throughout the season, Flick has tested both ideas. The team feels comfortable with De Jong playing deeper as a number six, but he might be the only player capable of replicating Pedri’s vision and ability to connect lines further up the pitch. His intelligence on the ball, control under pressure and passing range make him the natural candidate to lead the midfield.
Marc Bernal could also be an option, although his physical condition remains uncertain. He has only played 31 minutes across four matches so far, showing that he still lacks rhythm. With Olmo still regaining fitness and Fermín better suited to attacking roles, Flick’s choices are limited.
De Jong’s growing importance
With Pedri unavailable, all eyes now turn to Frenkie de Jong. Inside the dressing room, his teammates see him as one of the most underrated players in the squad, but also one of the most indispensable. His consistency and ability to dictate the flow of a match make him the natural leader of Flick’s midfield.
This season, De Jong has already appeared in eleven official matches, eight in La Liga and three in the Champions League. He has accumulated 643 minutes in the league and 211 in Europe, which reflects his importance as a guaranteed starter in Flick’s plan. Now he will need to take on even more responsibility as both organizer and stabilizer.
Barça’s structure under pressure
Pedri’s injury goes far beyond being another absence. It forces Flick to reconsider how Barcelona builds its play and maintains control without its most creative midfielder. The German coach has already shown tactical flexibility, but this moment will truly test his ability to adapt.
Without Pedri, Barcelona loses a key part of its identity. The team must now rely on collective intelligence, fast ball circulation and De Jong’s leadership to keep the game’s rhythm and control.
The numbers show just how crucial Pedri has been. He had started all thirteen matches this season and played in sixty-nine of the seventy-three official games under Flick. Last season, he missed only one match due to illness and was left on the bench just three times. His reliability and consistency make this setback especially painful for Barcelona.
A test of Flick’s adaptability
Hansi Flick now faces one of the biggest challenges of his Barcelona tenure. With a long list of injuries and limited options, his ability to reorganize the midfield will determine how competitive the team remains in the coming months.
Frenkie de Jong will need to lead by example and guide a reshaped midfield that combines youth, energy and intelligence. Pedri’s absence is a serious loss, but it also provides an opportunity for other players to rise and for Flick to prove that his football ideas can withstand adversity.
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