He can be out two month — Barcelona coach explains why star player will miss Villarreal

Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, has announced that star midfielder Pedri will miss the LALIGA clash against Villarreal as a precautionary measure after experiencing hamstring discomfort.

The 22-year-old has been a standout player for Barcelona this season and has largely avoided the long-term injuries that have plagued his time in Catalonia. However, Flick will not be able to count on him on Sunday for the top-of-the-table clash against Villarreal. 

Speaking ahead of the high-profile fixture, the German tactician expressed his disappointment at the news of Pedri’s absence. However, he provided some respite, explaining that he was omitted to avoid an even worse situation.

“He won’t be there,” he said, per Football Espana. “I’m not happy about this. He is injured. I expect him to come back against Espanyol. 

He has problems with the hamstrings. He can also play, but the risk is too high; if something happens, then he is out for two months.

“We have to take care of him and make sure he gets treatment; he can't train. But it’s impossible to play. We decided we can’t take any risks. It’s the best thing to do right now. 

“We need him for the upcoming matches in the new year against Espanyol and then the Super Cup. We have this match against Villarreal, and it’s important, but we have a lot of quality in the team.”