Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has revealed that Pedri is close to a return, creating unexpected optimism inside the squad ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
The midfielder has not rejoined full training, however his recovery has progressed faster than many expected.
The club has stayed steady in his absence, securing three wins and a draw.
Moreover, the coaching staff believes his return could give the team an extra spark as they prepare for Alaves and a huge clash with Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona are hopeful that Pedri might feature this weekend.
Flick explained that several important players are back and that Pedri is not far behind.
“Frenkie is back, Rashford too. Raphinha could get more playing time. Pedri might return at the end of the week. Joan Garcia is back as well. We’re training focused and hard. Now we’ll see how we do,” he said.
Furthermore, the manager expressed satisfaction with the team’s growth.
“You never know, but I’m happy to face Chelsea because it’s a good test. The team has improved a lot in recent weeks,” he added.
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford has returned to England for the second time since joining Barcelona on loan.
Flick praised the forward’s form and mentality, noting that the change of environment has helped him settle.
“I am happy to have him playing for Barcelona. I followed him his whole career… his quality in the box and in front of goal is impressive. He has shown that with us too,” he said.
The coach also highlighted how the forward has adapted off the pitch.
“For him the change and living in another country has been good. The people at Barcelona are fantastic… you can see he is smiling a lot. He enjoys the atmosphere we created. We’ll decide tomorrow whether he starts or comes off the bench, but I’m happy for him.”
Rashford is pushing for a starting place after his standout performance against Newcastle, where he scored twice to secure an important win.
He was unavailable for the victory over Athletic Club due to flu.
However, with Raphinha not fully ready and Ferran Torres now used more centrally, Rashford has a strong chance of returning to the lineup.
