Barcelonas Marc Casado Slips Out of Hansi Flicks Core Plans

Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado has fallen out of favour under Hansi Flick despite injuries to key players like Pedri and Gavi. In the 0-3 loss to Chelsea, Flick preferred Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen in midfield, while Dani Olmo also played the pivot role. Reports state Casado has clearly lost prominence this season.

When the Spanish champions walked out at Stamford Bridge, the absence of several key midfielders offered what looked like a clear chance for Marc Casado to step back into the spotlight. Instead, the match only underlined how far the young Barcelona midfielder has slipped in Hansi Flick's plans this season.

Barcelona suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat against Chelsea, a result made worse by the fact that Pedri and Gavi were already ruled out with injuries and Marc Bernal was not considered ready for such a demanding contest. Even with these gaps in midfield, Casado was left on the bench without a single minute on the pitch. Flick once again chose to push Eric Garcia into midfield, while Andreas Christensen later took over the same role in the second half. In recent weeks Dani Olmo, who is a natural attacking midfielder, has also been preferred in the pivot position.

According to Diario Sport, this pattern confirms that Casado has lost the prominence he gained last season and no longer holds a regular place in the managers plans. For a player who impressed during his breakthrough campaign, his continued omission signals a clear shift in the internal hierarchy at Barcelona under Flick.