By OkayGoal 
Lead
Hansi Flick addressed Gavi’s lack of playing time at a press conference on Tuesday, according to Barça Blaugranes. The midfielder started the season opener away to Elche but suffered a minor knee injury that kept him out of the following two games. Since returning to the squad, he has played seven minutes.
Barcelona have considerable competition for midfield minutes. Rodri has quickly earned a starting spot, while Pedri, Fermín López, Marc Bernal and Dani Olmo have all played regularly at the start of the season. That depth has limited Gavi’s opportunities after his return.
Background & Prior Coverage
Gavi finished last season strongly and appeared in good shape before the new campaign began, according to the report. His start was interrupted by the injury suffered against Elche, and his limited involvement since then has become a focus amid Barcelona’s deep midfield group.
Flick has made many changes during the opening month and a half of the season, using the depth available to him rather than relying on an unchanged team. Gavi’s situation sits within that wider approach to squad management, with several midfielders receiving regular opportunities early in the campaign.
What Flick Said About Gavi
Flick said every player in the squad is important and that Barcelona need the whole group. He acknowledged Gavi’s ambition to play, while noting that the midfielder started against Elche, was injured and then returned when the team was doing well.
The coach said the club must manage and distribute minutes across the season. He added that Gavi is training well, which is what he wants to see from the midfielder. Flick’s comments placed the issue in the context of managing a squad with depth rather than focusing solely on one player’s recent minutes.
A Squad Management Question, Not an Exclusion
Flick’s comments present Gavi’s limited minutes as part of Barcelona’s wider rotation rather than an exclusion from the squad. The coach stressed the need for every player over the course of the season and pointed to Gavi’s work in training.
The competition is particularly fierce in midfield, where several players have already received regular opportunities. Flick’s use of rotation means Barcelona can draw on the depth of the group as the season develops and distribute playing time among the squad.
Where This Leaves Gavi
Flick’s remarks focused on distributing minutes over the season and keeping the full squad involved. He described Gavi as an important member of the group and highlighted the midfielder’s training work following his return from injury.
For now, Gavi remains part of a midfield group that includes Rodri, Pedri, Fermín López, Marc Bernal and Dani Olmo. His return from the minor knee injury, his training work and Flick’s stated intention to use the squad are the key factors in the current picture. The report frames his recent limited involvement against the backdrop of Barcelona’s midfield depth and the coach’s early-season rotation.