Frenkie de Jong or Marc Bernal? Hansi Flick talks Rodri replacement ahead of Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid

By admin — In News — November 7, 2026

   ​Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images | Europa Press via Getty Images Barcelona will be without one of their best players in Sunday’s monster La Liga clash against Atlético Madrid as Rodri has been ruled out with a hamstring issue, and Hansi Flick is yet to decide on who will start in his place.Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, the coach was asked about his pick between Frenkie de Jong and Marc Bernal as the starting pivot and says he has not made a decision yet.“I haven’t decided if [Frenkie] will start. It’s good to think about it tonight. We know his quality, but we also know Bernal’s. He did very well in the last match and I’m really enjoying him.“Frenkie can play in several positions, not just as a ‘6’. They’re similar. Frenkie has more experience, but both are confident and decisive on the ball. Bernal has done very well and knows where he should be. I’m very happy with him, but also that Frenkie is back. We have to find the right starting eleven; we have time to make the decision.”Coaches usually don’t like to give away their starting lineups a day ahead of time anyway, but Flick seems to be genuinely torn about this particular selection.Frenkie is the more experienced player who is finally fully fit and can seamlessly fit back in and reunite his very productive double pivot with Pedri. But Marc Bernal has been Flick’s first choice for Rodri’s backup all season and had a strong substitute cameo against Aston Villa, so the coach’s doubts are certainly justified.  

Content Source: Yahoo News

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