84 minutes in last five games – Barcelona youngster loses prominence as Flick’s preference emerges | OneFootball

84 minutes in last five games – Barcelona youngster loses prominence as Flick’s preference emerges | OneFootball

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·18 febbraio 2025

84 minutes in last five games – Barcelona youngster loses prominence as Flick’s preference emerges

Immagine dell'articolo:84 minutes in last five games – Barcelona youngster loses prominence as Flick’s preference emerges

Having been a permanent fixture in the starting lineup for large parts of the season, Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado finds himself in a tricky position currently.

After all, the La Masia graduate has lost his place in the starting lineup recently to Frenkie de Jong, who seems to be nearing his best version following a lean spell upon returning from injury.


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Flick’s preference pattern emerges

As highlighted by SPORT, Casado’s prominence at Barcelona has significantly declined in recent weeks, having now been benched for three consecutive games by the manager for the first time this season

The report further suggests that there appears to be a pattern emerging as far as Flick’s selection is concerned, with the youngster no longer a regular starter.

The manager appears to favour experience, much like he has done in other positions – opting for Wojciech Szczesny over Inaki Pena in goal, Inigo Martinez over Ronald Araujo in central defence, and Robert Lewandowski leading the attack.

Immagine dell'articolo:84 minutes in last five games – Barcelona youngster loses prominence as Flick’s preference emerges

Losing prominence in the team. (Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images)

Casado became a key figure for Flick in the first line of midfield, stepping up after Marc Bernal’s long-term injury, embracing the challenge, and proving himself as a leader on the pitch.

The La Masia gem became Flick’s extension during matches, as demonstrated in the Spanish Super Cup final when, following Szczesny’s red card, the manager called him over to explain the tactical adjustments, trusting him to relay instructions to the team.

Casado’s outstanding performances against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Espanyol were proof of his growing influence as he became an undisputed starter. His rise even led to a debut with the Spanish national team.

But the situation has turned around dramatically. In the last five matches, Casado has played just 84 minutes, while De Jong has featured for 383 minutes.

Against Rayo Vallecano on Monday, Casado was Flick’s final substitution, coming on in the 88th minute to replace De Jong.

Both players will be crucial in the decisive stretch of the campaign, where Barcelona will fight for silverware. However, with De Jong now back at full strength, it appears that Casado is no longer the favoured option for the manager.

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