Why Hansi Flick keeps substituting Pedri despite his importance – report

Hansi Flick’s management of Pedri has emerged as a subtle yet significant element of Barcelona's success since the German took over. While Pedri is integral to Flick's plans, playing as an interior option or in a double pivot, the manager has consistently employed substitutions to regulate Pedri's workload. This strategy has persisted into the new season, with Pedri starting but being substituted frequently.

As per the report, Pedri has featured in every match this season, aside from the first game, but has never played a full 90 minutes. His league and Champions League playing times have ranged from 85 minutes against Athletic Club to 61 minutes against Racing Santander. This pattern of substitutions underscores Flick's commitment to managing Pedri's playing time, rather than reducing his importance to the team.

Unlike Barcelona's other consistent starters like Joan García, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha, Pedri's playing time has been meticulously controlled by Flick. This approach was evident in Flick's first season, where Pedri was substituted 18 times across Barcelona’s first 24 competitive matches, despite being Barcelona's ever-present player.

Even as Pedri's role grew more significant in the 2024-25 season, the pattern continued. Injuries temporarily impacted Pedri's availability, but he returned to start 43 matches, completing 14 of them. This approach reflects Flick's interest in maintaining Pedri's overall fitness and availability throughout a demanding season.