Hansi Flick seems to have lost confidence in Marc Casadó. The player from Sant Pere de Vilamajor was set to start against Celta, but a twinge in his adductor left him on the bench at Balaídos. Since then, the '17' has become an almost residual option in midfield, although the injury absence of Pedri González seemed to clear the path for him to be in the German coach's starting XI.
The '8' missed the last five games due to a left thigh injury from which he has not yet recovered. In that span, Casadó only completed 90 minutes in the victory against Elche (3-1), while in the draw against Bruges (3-3) he was replaced in the 58th minute.
On Saturday, against Athletic, **Flick opted for Eric García as the pivot** and Dani Olmo as an interior midfielder, although Marc was physically fit to play and **Frenkie de Jong** was absent due to suspension. Upon returning to Spotify Camp Nou, the 22-year-old midfielder **came on in the 64th minute for Fermín López** with the match already decided against a Basque team with ten men due to Sancet's expulsion.
The substitute role at Stamford Bridge, a message from Flick to Casadó?
Against Chelsea, the Barça coach once again opted for Eric in midfield, this time alongside De Jong. The Catalan midfield was clearly outplayed at Stamford Bridge, especially Frenkie, who made several serious errors in possession.
Despite Ronald Araujo's early expulsion, which forced García to move back to the center of defense in the second half, Flick kept Casadó on the bench. With Barça already two goals down, Andreas Christensen was the chosen one to reassemble a midfield broken by the numerical disadvantage.The Dane came on for Fermín in the 62nd minute. Later, in the 80th, **Dani Olmo** did the same, replacing Lamine Yamal. **Marcus Rashford, Raphinha, and Gerard Martín** were the other changes chosen by the German, none of them capable of reversing the poor game played by Barça.
Casadó, for his part, remained on the bench for the fifth time this season and is beginning to fear for his prominence in Barcelona. Only **Marc Bernal** has played less than him among midfielders (48 minutes), which is normal considering the recovery process the Berga native is still undergoing.
Barça-Alavés, possibly the last train for Marc Casadó
The '17', on the other hand, has even been surpassed by Eric García and Christensen in a key week for the team, considering the importance of the matches against Athletic and Chelsea. Now, Marc will have to work harder to regain Flick's confidence and alternate minutes with a Frenkie de Jong who is beginning to show signs of exhaustion.
Against Alavés, the coaching staff expects to recover Pedri, although the player from Tenerife will logically not be a starter in matchday 14 of LaLiga. The duel against the 'babazorros', in this way, presents itself as another great opportunity for Casadó, taking for granted that Flick will make several tweaks to the lineup after the tough fall at Stamford Bridge.
If the manager again relegates the player from Sant Pere de Vilamajor to the bench on Saturday, it will be clear that there is an evident loss of confidence in the player, who physically appears to be in optimal condition, but not so much in terms of the level of intensity and concentration required by the German coach.
Marc Casadó's Barcelona Records in 25/26
- Games played: 13 (9 as starter, 3 full)
- Minutes played: 592
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 1
- Yellow cards: 2
- Substitutions: 5