Everything is going pretty well at Barça this season. Hansi Flick is already unanimous with the press, leaders, supporters and especially of its players, while the individuals of the team are a hit. Its management of young players – a very important subject in Barcelona lands – is also rented by everyone. The few somewhat polemical decisions made by the German, such as giving the place of number 1 to Wojciech Szczęsny in place of Iñaki Peña, finally agreed to the former Bayern and his few detractors could only eat their hat. There is only one shadow on the board right now: Gavi. If Pedri, Cubarsi, Lamine Yamal or Marc Casado have fun and continue to progress at a dazzling speed, Gavi must gnaw on the sidelines.
Returning to the lawns on October 20 after almost a year of absence and a knee injury that held him back when he was on a spectacular momentum, he was only established 7 times in Liga, for 15 appearances in total. In the Champions League, he started 2 of the 6 games in which he participated. Clearly far from his usual standards, and this superb 2022/2023 season in particular, where he was one of the players essential for Xavi, being one of the first names registered on the compos of the Catalan coach. It is true that after so many months of absence, necessarily, he needed several weeks to enter the dynamics of the team and find an optimal pace. Just as he had to adapt to Flick and discover a new working method with more delay than his partners. But now that it is completely operational, it is still in ostracism, for example having played only a few minutes in additional time against Atlético during the shock of the last derby.
Hansi Flick loves it
Clearly, it is a purely sporting relative closet, and there is no other reason behind the little playing time of the Iberian international. The Catalan media even explain that Gavi is one of the darlings of the German coach. The behavior, motivation and professionalism of the young midfielder also seduced Flick, who enormously appreciates him. “He saw a difficult situation but he is one of the best, he does things well. He will play a lot of years in this club and he will be one of his stars. He will still progress, and his attitude is perfect ”explained the German coach at a press conference at the end of last week. The two men display a great bond, and we often see Flick encourage him and show him affection for training or during the matches. And it's reciprocal. At the end of the match against the Colchoneros, Gavi, mad with joy,, for example, left the celebration with his teammates to jump into the arms of his coach.
“We hope that Flick will stay at Barça for a very long time”he said recently. Mentally, Gavi saw his situation rather well according to the Spanish press. He does not hesitate to display his good humor in training, and has not made the slightest complaint as to his situation, whether publicly or in private. It must be said that in this team, competition is raging, and Gavi may pay the fact of not having a reference position. Capable of playing in 6, in 8, in 10 and even the right side, it is difficult to attribute a very specific place and role to the Spaniard. The two posts on the wings are occupied by Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, which are untouchable for obvious reasons. At the three of the middle positions, Pedri is also unbeatable, by Jong and Casado share the position of more defensive environment, and Gavi should therefore a priori rather fight with Dani Olmo for this remaining place. Problem, Dani Olmo is also very good at the moment and above all, is more comfortable than his compatriot in this role of axial attacking midfielder, with more ability to move between the lines and create danger around the surface.
Convicted of the bench?
The versatility of Gavi, which was so useful at the time of Xavi, now has prejudice to him, at a time when Hansi Flick is looking for specialists than Swiss knives at each position. Marc Casado's injury, Out for the rest of the season, could however offer him new opportunities in the coming weeks. Hansi Flick applies meritocracy and has just revived a Jong Frenkie which seemed finished, proof that in the event of interesting services, Gavi could clearly make a place in the eleven. It must be said that so far, when he has been on the ground, Gavi has rarely shown his best face. If his fighting spirit, his aggressiveness and his aggressiveness in the defensive work are still there, his participation and his influence in the team's game have sometimes been failing.
Among the most appreciated players in the locker room, the situation of Andalusian does not ask too many questions with his teammates or management, and everyone seems convinced that he will end up finding a place of holder and leader sooner or later. The opportunities will not be long in coming, while the Catalans will still have an infernal calendar on the return from the international break, with the half of Copa del Rey, the Champions League quarters and the Liga meetings. The ball is in the Gavi camp, which will inevitably be keen to prove that he can become this player as good and intelligent with the ball that is inserted and aggressive when it must be recovered. And this would be a superb news for Hansi Flick, who will need a most supplied arsenal as possible as the big end of season deadlines …
