Pablo Gavi was the big surprise in Hansi Flick’s starting lineup for the Atletico Madrid game.
The coach decided to give Dani Olmo a rest after his poor form in recent matches and chose Gavi over other options such as Frenkie de Jong or Pablo Torre, despite the fact that Gavi is still far from his best. This decision is understandable, considering he is still recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered more than a year ago. Nevertheless, Gavi showed great determination to perform well.
As usual, Gavi gave his all, contributing to the brilliance of his teammates, such as Pedri González, and acting as a leader on the pitch, encouraging the rest of the players to do more to secure a victory.
However, the match ended in disappointment following the defeat, which Gavi felt was unfair given the clear chances the team had.
The cameras captured a moment when he asked Robert Lewandowski to be more involved in defense, as the latter had underperformed and missed a clear opportunity that could have changed the outcome of the match.
This situation has caused tension between Gavi and Lewandowski. The Polish striker did not appreciate the way Gavi addressed him. Their relationship has soured, with Lewandowski’s complex personality being described by some as toxic.
This conflict extends beyond Gavi and affects the wider Barcelona squad. Lewandowski is reportedly facing other tensions within the dressing room, including issues with players like Iñaki Peña, who felt frustrated after being asked by coach Flick to sit on the bench in favor of Wojciech Szczęsny.
There are also tensions with Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres, with whom Lewandowski has had difficulties on the pitch. He has reportedly asked Flick to stop giving them opportunities.