Flick doesn't want any more leaks in the locker room

BarcelonaFor many weeks, Marc Bernal's future was uncertain. The footballer had returned to play after a serious injury that sidelined him for a year. But the midfielder wasn't getting the playing time he expected. His recovery had gone well, although the team's dynamics had changed. Hansi Flick's Barça was a well-oiled machine, and the player from Berguedà, who had impressed everyone in the three matches he played at the start of the 2024-25 season, had to wait patiently for his turn. It's not easy to go from praise to ostracism, from being indispensable to sitting on the bench. The club asked him to remain calm and showed him, with his contract extension until 2029, that they trusted him. However, things weren't all rosy in the dressing room. And, playing only a few minutes, Doubts arose

This is where Girona saw an opportunity. At Montilivi, where – despite recent favorable results – they know reinforcements are needed to stay in the top flight, they saw Barça as a good place to go fishing. They succeeded with Marc-André ter Stegen, who this week made his debut as Girona's starting goalkeeper. And, for much of January, they believed they could also convince Marc Bernal to join them on loan until the end of the season. The player didn't want to go initially, but Barça had doubts about whether or not it would be a good fit. For the club, he was a clear investment for the future, although if he was going to get limited playing time, they considered whether at Girona, where he would have been guaranteed a starting position, he could gain the necessary confidence and experience.

So it went, everyone weighing their options, until the transfer of Dro Fernández was finalized. He was presented as a new Paris Saint-Germain player on Tuesday. His departure greatly upset Hansi Flick. The German coach of Barça had placed his trust in the midfielder, whom, although he hadn't given the playing time some expected, he was developing with the future in mind. Flick trusts his ability to manage the dressing room and prefers to have a large squad, aware that between the tight schedule, injuries, and suspensions, there are ultimately enough minutes for everyone. So, with Dro leaving the Catalan club, the coach gave orders to block Bernal's departure. "Flick wants him no matter what," sources at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper (Barcelona's training ground) indicate.

And Flick isn't just saying it; he's also showing it through his actions. The coach gave Bernal playing time in the match against Copenhagen. And these weren't just any minutes: with Barça losing at halftime and needing to substitute Eric Garcia due to a knock, the coach placed his trust in the midfielder, a pure pivot, and encouraged him to lead the team's attack in the second half. Bernal's performance was remarkable: 36 touches, three recoveries, two duels won, and 25 successful passes out of 30 attempts.

"Barça is my life and my shield"

"[Flick] already told me it would be a long process and that these minutes would be good for me to get into a rhythm and continue in that dynamic," Bernal commented after the match against Copenhagen And, with a mischievous grin, he celebrated the direct qualification for the round of 16 without having to go through the playoffs. He received praise from the dressing room and the analysts. It was the third time he had played 45 minutes of a match. "My intention has always been to stay. It's my life, my badge, and that will always be the case," he added.

Little by little, with patience, Bernal is beginning to have the leading role he wanted, although the process hasn't been easy. A year without playing leaves its mark, and although medically everything was fine, there were some off-field attitudes that didn't quite convince the coach. That's why, before Christmas, Flick sat down to talk with the player and was very honest with him: he had a place at Barça, but he had to take a step forward. If he did, the coach would trust him. No sooner said than done. Bernal knows that he doesn't yet have a place in the starting eleven and that, when Pedri and De Jong are available, they will be ahead of him. But he's willing to be patient and keep working. In return, the coach will give him more playing time, and of higher quality, throughout the season.