Hansi Flick explains Dani Rodríguez’s surprise Barcelona start vs Real Valladolid | OneFootball

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has provided an explanation for the altogether surprising start afforded to youngster Dani Rodríguez in the club’s latest outing.

The name of winger Rodríguez has of course emerged as an altogether prominent one in the Spanish media headlines late on Saturday.

This comes after the 19-year-old, yet to make his senior bow in Barcelona’s colours, was thrown straight in from the off in the Blaugrana’s La Liga meeting with Real Valladolid.

Rodríguez spent the week to date training alongside the club’s first-team stars, and evidently did enough to impress Hansi Flick and his coaching staff.

Speaking to the media ahead of kick-off at the Estadio José Zorrilla, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of the starlet’s inclusion in his latest XI was put to Barca’s headmaster.

And Flick went on to explain:

“Dani Rodríguez starting? He will play as number 7. He is liked here. He came back like a month and a half ago. I am happy for him. I hope he can show his value today.”

Conor Laird – GSFN