Denis Suarez explains what makes Hansi Flick's Barcelona midfield different: 'They play a bit differently because...'

Denis Suárez returns to Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday when Deportivo Alavés face Barcelona in La Liga, offering an assessment of how Hansi Flick is structuring the midfield. In an interview with SPORT, the former Barcelona player said Flick’s approach adds an advanced attacking midfielder ahead of deeper roles. Suárez emphasized that Frenkie de Jong and Pedri often operate centrally together, with Rodri providing protection behind them. He pointed to a recent spell when Rodri sat as the defensive midfielder while De Jong and Pedri played in central midfield. Suárez also contrasted this with his own experience at Alavés under Quique Sánchez Flores, where he works in a three-man midfield and has a role described as more of a final-pass option, though he drops back at times when the team is out of possession.