Barcelona’s Midfield Meltdown: Hansi Flick faces unprecedented challenge

Barcelona have had a challenging few weeks and we have not even seen the start of the new season yet. 

The troubles began when Frenkie de Jong was unable to participate in the ongoing European Championship due to injury. Following him, Pedri also got injured and is expected to be out for a significant period. This was a big blow to the team. 

To add to their woes, Ronald Araujo has also been sidelined, and Fermin Lopez’s involvement in the Paris Olympics adds further complications for the new manager, Hansi Flick.

Flick’s options are extremely limited

Flick is likely to use a 4-2-3-1 formation and this approach heavily relies on a strong attacking midfielder, positioned just behind the centre forward. 

Initially, Flick had four key players to choose from for this crucial role, depending on whether he needed a forward, a passer, or a creative playmaker. However, as the new season approaches, he is quickly running out of options.

The La Liga season is set to start on August 17 against Valencia, and by that time, Flick knows he might be left with just one of his initial four choices for the attacking midfielder position.

Pedri is likely to miss the start of the new season.(Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

Pedri, who has a sprained knee ligament, will not be back in time. Even if he dedicates his holidays to recovery, it is unlikely he will be fit to play by the start of the season. 

Problems do not end for Flick

Furthermore, Gavi, who is making good progress in his recovery, won’t be able to return to La Liga until the autumn. He has been out for almost a year due to his injury while playing for the Spanish national team.

Furthermore, Fermin faces his own challenges. He will be coming off two consecutive seasons without a break, having participated in the Euros with limited playtime and then the Paris Olympics. 

If Spain aims for a medal in the Olympics, Fermin, who will likely play extensively, will not return from France until August 12. This means Flick would not have had him in training even once before the season started.

All this means Ilkay Gundogan is the only player who might be available if he resists the lucrative offers from Arab football clubs. 

Flick is familiar with Gundogan from his time with the German national team, which is an advantage. However, the disadvantage is that there won’t be a backup plan if Gundogan gets injured or needs rest.