Spain under-21 coach David Gordo has clarified why Barcelona talent Marc Bernal did not make the squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers.
Speaking after the squad announcement, Gordo said Bernal remains a valued part of the national setup but is currently going through a difficult phase at his club. “Marc is one of ours, but he’s not living a comfortable situation right now. He’s getting few minutes,” Gordo explained. “We’ve brought the players we believe can best help us earn six important points for our qualification.”
Bernal returned to action earlier this season after knee surgery but has barely featured under Hansi Flick. Since his comeback almost two months ago, he has appeared only briefly in four matches, against Valencia, Real Oviedo, Paris Saint-Germain, and Olympiacos. The most he played in any one match was 11 minutes, with the least being against Oviedo – when he was subbed in the 91st minute and the ref blew his whistle to end the match that very same minute.
Flick has been careful with the teenager’s recovery, preferring a slow buildup rather than full involvement too soon. Reports in Spain indicate that the club plans to increase Bernal’s playing time later this year, with hopes he will become more involved by January.
Gordo’s decision reflects that reality. He pointed out that for this international window, the priority was to call up players who are fully fit and ready to contribute to matches against San Marino and Romania, scheduled for November 14 and 18.
