Marc Bernal: “It’s very hard to see that you can’t even dress yourself.”

Sant Joan DespíMarc Bernal (Berga, 2007) is a clear candidate to be the center of the Barça of the future. He showed his potential in three matches, until an injury from crossword puzzles sidelined him for a year. Now recovered, he's working for ARA at the Ciudad Deportiva. He's wearing shorts that reveal a prominent scar on his left knee, his good leg.

Is the injury now a thing of the past?

— Yes, it's a thing of the past now. When I play, I don't think about it. At most, I've had some bad feelings. Nothing more. It was something that worried me about whether I'd have any discomfort or not. But so far, none.

It's been a year of injuries. What's been the toughest moment?

— I'd say the first night. It was very long. And after the operation, too. You can't walk, you can't do anything. I couldn't even change by myself! It was a month and a half that was very hard. Gavi had already warned me that this would happen: that it would be very hard at first, but that later, on the field, running, doing ball exercises... I would feel capable.

Did you ever think that football was over for you?

— At first, you might have a bit of a downturn, but the club helped me a lot. Gestures like the renewal helped with that. So, honestly, I never had that feeling.

Flick was one of the people who encouraged you the most. He even gave you a book.

— It was about mentality. This was after the operation, when some teammates came to see me. Flick, too. He's always been very close. He's been asking me how my recovery is going and has taken a lot of interest in me. I didn't expect that.

Is it really as strict as it is called?

— Yes, he is. He has a different mentality than ours and has changed a lot of things. But I think, in terms of punctuality, he's good. Out of respect for everyone in the locker room.

How do you speak? In English? In Spanish? In Catalan?

— No, not much in Catalan… He understands Spanish more or less. And if not, in English, there's always a translator who can help.

And what language do you speak with your teammates in the locker room?

— Catalan, Spanish, or English. With those from La Masia, like Pau and Gerard, we speak mostly Catalan. With Gavi and Fermín, Spanish. And with the others, it depends.

How did you know you'd stay in the first-team dynamic?

— Last preseason, there were more teammates from the reserve team. As the days went by, some were told to return to Barça Atlètic. But not me. And in the end, they told me I was staying. I'm very grateful to them.

And here comes the first league game... and he's starting at Mestalla against Valencia. Did you expect it?

— During the week, in training, you see whether you have a chance to play or not. But being a starter… was amazing. Both for me and my family. They had come to see me, not because they knew I was playing, but because it was my first call-up for a league match. It was a great opportunity, and I'm very grateful.

It was a great debut. It felt like you'd been in the first team for five years!

— I tried to handle it as best I could. The truth is, going out on the first day and on a pitch like Mestalla... I was a little nervous. At first, my teammates supported me. Some, like Christensen, gave me advice. And as the game progressed, I felt better.

Let's talk about the present. The two games before the strike were tough losses against PSG and Sevilla. How do you see the team?

— I think we can all have bad days. It's true that we need to improve, even if we win. But all in all, I think this international break has been good for us to relax a bit. I'm sure we'll get through this. Starting with this weekend's game.

Some say that perhaps he has become a little puffy after the last temperate weather.

— This is a lie. We're barely two months into the season! We're focused. We try to ignore these criticisms.

And you, are you paying attention?

— Personally, I try not to look at it. And from what I know, very few comments are made in the locker room. I think it's the best thing for everyone.

Speaking of positive things, what are the virtues of this Barça?

— I'd like to emphasize, above all, what we're all about as a team. We're very united, and that shows on the field. And the quality of the players, which is incredible.

But he hasn't escaped injuries. What's happening to him?

— I don't know much about it because I'm no expert. I don't know if it's just bad luck or not. I think it's just a football thing. It's a pain, for the players, for the clubs, and for the team.

Many coaches believe that the center position at Barça is the most difficult. Do you see it that way too?

— Maybe it looks that way from the outside. I look at it from the inside and think that if I play as a six, it's easier for me than if, for example, I were to play as a full-back. I couldn't tell you. I feel comfortable like this.

But you started out as a striker. How did you end up as a center midfielder?

— When I was very young, I played as a forward. Then I spent several years as a playmaker. When I was in the U16 B team, I had made a change, especially in height. So Pol Planas, who was the coach, tried me as a center. And now I'm staying.

You, how are you most comfortable? Single-center, double-center, with…

— I feel very comfortable with the current model. Playing alone or with a double pivot. It's true that against PSG I played a few minutes as a playmaker, but I think that was due to the circumstances. I adapt well to different situations.

Do you see much room for improvement?

— Yes, I think I've got enough. For now, what I want is to get back on track and gradually get back into the swing of things.

You've said that Busquets is your role model. Do you talk often?

— I check in, yes, but I'm not in touch. He only texted me when I got injured: he gave me some advice and wished me a good recovery.

What other footballers do you look up to?

— From the team, I look up to Frenkie, Pedri, and Olmo. They have a lot of quality, and I try to apply what they do, even if it's just a little. From outside, I look up to those in my position, like Rodri or Zubimendi, for example, who are in the national team.

Speaking of Frenkie, do you understand why he is criticized?

— I think everything being said about him is pure lies. Criticism? I see him train and I see him play, and it's a pass. And I'm not the only one who thinks this; we've talked about it with some of our teammates. In the early days of our promotion to the first team, he was the one who surprised us the most.

Because?

— For his technique. His speed also surprised me greatly. And most importantly, he never lost a single ball.

Now you've moved to Castelldefels. Until recently, you were at La Masia, where you joined at the age of fourteen. But before that, you had to take a taxi to train from Berga.

— It was three days a week. There was a taxi that picked up all the players in the area. I got on first and dropped off last. I remember leaving school a little early and not getting home until 11 or 11:30 at night. And the next day, getting up early to go to class.

It's a huge sacrifice. Did you or your family ever have doubts?

— The way I experienced it, when you're young, you don't notice any of this. You get in the taxi, you talk to others, you train, you play... and that's it. Now, maybe I would notice it more. At that time, I didn't.

Do you return to Berga very often?

— I lived there until I came to La Masia. But I try to go whenever I can. It's my home, and it's comfortable. I like the mountains; I feel at home there. And in winter, it's easy to find them covered in snow.

How does it feel to be the most famous person in Berga?

— Someone has told me this before… I don't know if it's true.