Barcelona fans were very excited about the return of Gavi, who had a strong finish to last season, won the World Cup with Spain and looked in great shape for the start of the new season.
He started the opener away to Elche but suffered a minor knee injury that caused him to miss the following two games, and he’s only played a total of seven minutes since coming back to the squad in the last couple of weeks.
Barça have a very deep squad this season and the competition for minutes in midfield is especially
fierce, with Rodri quickly earning a starting spot and Pedri, Fermín López, Marc Bernal and Dani Olmo all playing regular minutes to begin the season.
Hansi Flick was asked at a press conference on Tuesday about Gavi’s lack of playing time, and the coach was calm and indicated he plans to rotate the squad and give minutes to everyone, including Gavi, throughout the season.
“Of course, every player is important to us. Every player on the team is very important, and we need every single one. Gavi’s ambition is very high, and he always wants to play. He started against Elche, got injured, and then came back, but the team is doing well, and we have to accept that.
“But we need everyone, and we have to manage and distribute the minutes. We don’t know what will happen at the end of the season, but we need everyone, and in a positive way. He’s training well, and that’s what I want to see from him.”
Flick has made many more changes than usual in the first month and a half of the new season, taking advantage of his depth and using his squad well so far.
Gavi will eventually get his chance, and while he doesn’t figure to be an undisputed starter all season, he will certainly have his moment to shine. He just needs to stay fit.
