November 5, 2026
German Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s coach, is facing a complex crisis in the midfield following Rodri’s injury, which will keep him out of action for a full month, on the eve of the anticipated confrontation against Atletico Madrid, scheduled for Sunday in the Spanish League.
The “Goal” website explained that Rodri’s absence represents a painful blow to the team, given that he is the most reliable pillar in the midfield under Flick’s leadership, as his minutes of participation amounted to 945 minutes, surpassing his teammates Fermin Lopez and Pedri.
In the face of this dilemma, Mark Bernal stands out as a natural choice to fill the position of the focal player, while Dutchman Frenkie de Jong is strongly presenting himself to take on the same task, which puts the technical staff before a careful comparison to decide the identity of the replacement.
De Jong returned to the green rectangle less than two weeks ago in El Clasico against Real Madrid, recovering from a knee injury that kept him out for three months. The last period has turned the page on the summer tension related to the conservative treatment option, which resulted in Flick’s decision to withdraw the first captaincy from him and give it to Rafinha, while choosing Pedri as second captain.
Despite Flick’s great appreciation for the Dutch player’s potential and the latter’s desire to regain his pivotal role, the coach has not yet employed him in his original position as a focal player. He participated for 82 minutes in central defense against Alaves, then played 36 minutes in the advanced midfield position against Real Madrid and Aston Villa.
For its part, the Catalan newspaper “Sport” indicated that the hiring of De Jong created a state of difference in viewpoints, in conjunction with the player’s aspiration to regain his starting position, which he confirmed after the victory over Aston Villa (3-0) in his 300th match in the Catalan club’s jersey, saying: “Nothing bothers me, I feel good and excited to start the Atletico match.”
On the other hand, Flick’s handling of the situation is cautious. Despite his praise of the player’s capabilities, he stressed that he has not regained his full readiness yet, explaining: “Frenkie is not 100% ready, but he is at a good level. This is normal after an injury. Step by step, he is an excellent player.”
Thus, the German coach must decide between two main options to compensate for Rodri’s absence at the Atletico Madrid summit. Either introduce Mark Bernal as a traditional replacement in the focal position, or expedite the return of Frenkie de Jong to the starting lineup.
