‘We need fresh legs’ - Flick hints at resting Pedri, vows to make changes against Valencia
The coach is planning to rotate his squad this weekend
Barcelona were pushed to the limit in their epic comeback win over Benfica in Champions League action this week, and have another big European game against Atalanta looking to secure a Top 2 finish in the League Phase standings next Wednesday.
The Blaugrana have already played a ton of big games this January with pretty much the same starting XI, so it’s natural to wonder if coach Hansi Flick will be making any changes to his team on Sunday’s La Liga clash with relegation candidates Valencia.
Flick was asked about potential rotations in a press conference on Saturday, and he confirmed that he indeed plans to make some changes to the team, including resting his best and most important player, midfielder Pedri.
“At the moment he is playing at 100% and very well. I already mentioned that we changed the philosophy regarding Pedri. He will continue to play because it suits him better. He may not be in the starting eleven. We need fresh legs to face Valencia. We will see. There are changes planned in the team.”
Pedri has been in incredible form all season and most importantly has been fully healthy for the first time in almost four years, so it’s crucial to make sure he stays available for as long as possible.
Barça are certainly good enough to win on Sunday without Pedri’s brilliance, even if they’re not as dominant in midfield because of his absence, but a programmed rest for the world’s best midfielder every now and then is never a bad idea.
Source: barcablaugranes.com
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