Barcelona has found themselves in the midst of a rigorous run of fixtures, forcing Hansi Flick to make difficult decisions on how to manage his squad.
Since the March international break, the Catalan club has played 13 games in 40 days, a mix of La Liga, Champions League, and Copa del Rey matches, and the workload has been clearly demanding.
Despite the demanding schedule, three players have proven untouchable: Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal.
All three have appeared in all 13 of these matches, demonstrating their importance in Flick’s tactical setup and overall team vision.
While other squad players have been rotated or sidelined due to injuries, this three has stayed consistent.
Among the three, Pedri’s consistency has been unparalleled. The midfielder started 12 of the 13 games, with the lone exception coming in the second leg against Borussia Dortmund, where he came off the bench.
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Despite Barcelona huge match load, Flick has trusted Pedri to bring control, intelligence, and tranquility in the heart of the park, something he has delivered time and again. According to 90 min.
His ability to set the tempo and link play between midfield and attack has rendered him irreplaceable.
Lamine Yamal: Holding his ground
For 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, this period has been nothing short of extraordinary. The youthful winger started 11 of the 13 games, but only appeared on the bench against Celta Vigo and Real Valladolid.
Nonetheless, he played at least 30 minutes in each of those contests. In the Valladolid encounter, a first-half injury to Dani Rodriguez pushed Yamal into action before the half-hour mark, meaning his “rest” was cut brutally short.
Yamal’s ability to affect games from the flanks — with speed, creativity, and composure beyond his years — has made it tough for Flick to keep him out for long.
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