Many Barcelona fans expected Marc Bernal to play a big role in the team after returning from a long absence due to an ACL injury.
After all, he was already a starter last season, but unfortunately got injured and he missed a year.
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However, his reintegration into the team has been much slower and methodical, with head coach Hansi Flick taking a cautious approach.
Bernal, Flick’s New Year’s Weapon
However, according to “Sports”, Bernal will become a “weapon” for the Barcelona coach as the team starts the new year.
In fact, the idea is to let Bernal’s role grow and make him a more realistic and regular option in the rotation than he has been thus far.
Flick and his technical staff were very clear about the roadmap from the beginning. The young midfielder was always going to be reintroduced gradually and, most importantly, avoid situations of competitive pressure in the first few months.
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The ideal situation for Bernal would be to accumulate playing time in less intense games. The problem is, early in the season, there are very few games of this type.
Bernal will become more prominent. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
A string of injuries and setbacks meant Barcelona rarely enjoyed a comfortable schedule, limiting Bernal’s chances of making a bigger impact.
At times, the players themselves understandably become impatient. By the end of November, more than three months into the season, he had only played 62 minutes, and those minutes were minimal.
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On November 29, Bernal made his first start against Alaves and his mood improved dramatically. He played an encouraging 45 minutes, showing good physical condition and showing the ability he showed in his brief spell before suffering an injury in August 2024.
He then played 28 minutes against Real Betis, 46 minutes against Guadalajara and a further 25 minutes against Villarreal to round out the season.
This positive feeling towards the end of 2025 is expected to continue and even intensify into early 2026.
January and February will bring a heavy schedule, including the Copa del Rey, Super Cup, La Liga and two Champions League games. In this context, La Masia The midfielder is expected to get more playing time.
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Due to the absence of defense, Eric Garcia plays multiple roles, often playing as a holding midfielder. Everything shows that Bernal gradually assumes more central responsibilities, and Eric can also rotate back to the core of the defense.