The engine room of FC Barcelona has suffered another critical blow. The confirmation of Pedri’s latest injury has not only deprived the team of its primary creative architect but has also thrust fellow midfielder Frenkie de Jong into a glaring spotlight.
As the club navigates a season plagued by 15 separate injuries, a monumental question now hangs over the Camp Nou: How will Hansi Flick recalibrate his midfield around the Dutchman?
Pedri, widely regarded as the most crucial component for implementing Flick’s high-octane, possession-dominant style, leaves a void that seems impossible to fill.
His absence in the coming weeks leaves de Jong without his most synergistic partner, forcing the Netherlands international to shoulder a significantly heavier burden both in leadership and on-pitch responsibility.
A Leadership Void and a Tactical Reshuffle
De Jong himself has recently spoken about evolving into a more vocal leader off the pitch. Now, Pedri’s absence demands he takes “an extra step inside the green rectangle.”
This isn’t just a minor adjustment; it’s a seismic shift that threatens to unbalance Flick’s entire midfield system.
The situation is stark: Flick is now without his two most dynamic advanced midfielders, Pedri and Gavi.
His current squad presents a puzzle—a surplus of three pivot players (de Jong, Marc Casadó, and Pau Bernal) and four attacking midfielders (the soon-to-return Dani Olmo, and youngsters Drew and Toni).
The most pressing decision for Flick is who he will entrust to step into Pedri’s creative shoes.
Currently, it seems that De Jong, Casadó, and Fermín will form the midfield trio against Elche, but the decisive question is: What will Flick do with De Jong?
Keep de Jong as the defensive pivot (#6), providing stability and initiating play from deep, while granting Casadó or Fermín the license to advance?
Push de Jong into Pedri’s advanced role (#8), leveraging his driving runs and progressive passing to become the primary link between midfield and attack?
However, the decisive tactical question revolves entirely around de Jong’s positioning.
Analyzing Flick’s Options: The De Jong Dilemma
Flick has tried both options, and although the team is accustomed to seeing De Jong as a pivot player (number 6), the Dutchman appears the most prepared to take on Pedri’s role.
The German coach utilized Bernal against Olympiacos this season, and Fermín against Getafe, in Pedri’s position, but those choices proved unsuccessful in the long term.
Pedri’s injury is a significant setback, but it also presents a defining moment for Frenkie de Jong’s Barcelona career. His teammates do not doubt his importance; they always consider him the most underrated player on the team.
Hansi Flick’s ultimate decision will reveal a great deal about his tactical priorities and his trust in the squad’s depth.
Whether stationed deep or unleashed further forward, one thing is certain: Frenkie de Jong is now the undisputed heartbeat of Barcelona’s midfield, and the team’s immediate fortunes rest squarely on his shoulders.
