Every manager has their own preferences when it comes to picking their preferred XI based on what works best for their team.
Hansi Flick and Spain manager Luis de la Fuente appear to have very different preferences when choosing between Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo.
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According to Diario SPORT, Fermin has established himself ahead of Olmo in Barcelona’s attacking midfield hierarchy this season.
However, the situation is reversed with Spain, where De la Fuente continues to favour Dani Olmo.
Fermin has the upper hand at Barcelona
The numbers underline Flick’s preference.
Fermin has started five matches for Barcelona this season compared to Olmo’s three, accumulating 466 minutes against his teammate’s 342.
Fermin Lopez has been in excellent form at the start of the season for Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The 23-year-old has also been more productive, registering four goals and two assists. Olmo, meanwhile, has contributed three assists but is still searching for his first Barcelona goal of the campaign.
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Fermin’s energy, pressing and willingness to attack the penalty area make him particularly valuable in Flick’s aggressive system.
His ability to arrive in dangerous positions without the ball gives Barcelona another goal threat beyond their forwards.
Olmo remains Spain’s preferred option
The international break has produced almost the opposite picture.
Olmo started three of Spain’s four Nations League matches, playing 220 minutes and providing three assists.
Fermin, returning to the national team after missing the World Cup through injury, started only once and played 91 minutes.
He did, however, provide an assist for Lamine Yamal against Croatia. De la Fuente currently values Olmo’s experience, while Flick is choosing Fermin’s directness.
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Barcelona could benefit from both approaches
The real opportunity for Flick is to stop viewing this competition purely as a choice between two players.
Barcelona face a demanding October, including a Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain and the Clasico against Real Madrid on 25 October.
Hansi Flick will need Olmo ahead of Fermin in certain types of games. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The Catalan club also faces different kinds of opponents on a weekly basis, and different fixtures could warrant different solutions.
Fermin could be especially valuable when Barcelona need relentless pressing, forward runs and an extra presence around the opposition box.
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Olmo, meanwhile, offers a different weapon against compact defences and low blocks, where his movement between the lines and passing combinations can unlock spaces.
Rather than treating one player as a starter ahead of the other, Barça are fortunate to have two such high-quality options for the same position.
It remains to be seen how the competition between Olmo and Fermin develops and how Flick goes about keeping both of them happy through the course of the season.
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