Barcelona Faces Challenges as Injuries Pile Up and Key Player Management Takes Center Stage
After a strong start to the season, Barcelona has faced setbacks, suffering consecutive defeats against PSG and Real Madrid. The team is also dealing with injuries to several key players, including Xavi Espart, Dani Olmo, Eric Garcia, and Andreas Christensen. This situation has heightened the importance for coach Hansi Flick to carefully manage the playing time of his vital squad members to prevent exhaustion.
One player Flick has been particularly cautious with is midfield star Pedri, who has a well-documented injury history.
Flick’s Game-Management for Pedri
Pedri is a key element in the Barcelona midfield. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
According to Mundo Deportivo, Flick has intentionally worked to safeguard Pedri’s health throughout the season. Pedri has participated in 50 of a possible 60 matches between Barcelona and the Spanish national team, starting in 40 of those. He has logged 3,399 minutes out of 5,400 available this calendar year, translating to approximately 62 percent of total playing time, a figure the club deems carefully managed rather than excessive.
Flick’s strategic management is evident in Pedri’s playing time; despite featuring in all 13 matches this season, he often finds himself substituted, making him the most replaced player on the squad, a tactic aimed at maintaining his performance levels.
The Fatigue Debate After the Clasico
Pedri had an awful outing against Real Madrid. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Nevertheless, Pedri’s participation remains substantial this season, having played 77.43 percent of the available minutes in 2026-27, a significant increase compared to earlier in the year. This increased load appeared to show against Real Madrid, with Flick acknowledging that his team lacked freshness. Pedri had an unusually poor performance, leading former Madrid player Rafael van der Vaart to label his showing as “absolutely dreadful.”
With several players ready to step in, including Gavi, Gabriel Jesus, and returning star Frenkie de Jong, Flick has options for rotation moving forward. The focus now shifts to balancing Pedri’s fitness and creativity for the challenges ahead, ensuring he remains a pivotal force in Barcelona’s lineup.
