Barcelona excludes Rodri from PSG match
Barcelona's Hansi Flick opts to rest Rodri ahead of crucial Champions League games.
Match-up
Barcelona's Hansi Flick has made an unexpected decision to exclude Rodri Hernández from the starting lineup for the upcoming match against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League.
Flick explained his decision, stating, 'We need to manage the workload of the players, especially the internationals. Rodri has played the last three complete matches, so we decided to give him a break. We know how important he is, but we have confidence in Bernal.'
Team Composition
Marc Bernal will replace Rodri in the lineup, alongside Pedri and Dani Olmo in the midfield. Gerard Martín will start in defense, paired with Pau Cubarsí, while Joao Cancelo and Xavi Espart will occupy the wing positions.
Flick's decision to manage the players' workload is evident, as Barcelona is preparing for two high-stakes matches against PSG and Real Madrid, with limited time between them.
Defensive Concerns
Rodri acknowledged the team's defensive weaknesses, stating, 'We are quite good in attack, but we need to improve a lot in defense. We still take too many goals. We have to tighten that up to reach our maximum potential. PSG is possibly the best team in the world. It will be a good test for us.'
Barcelona has conceded 11 goals in 11 matches, averaging one goal per game, which is a concern heading into critical Champions League games.
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