Pedri remains under “total precaution” at Hansi Flick’s Barcelona as the team finalizes its preparations for the league match against Villarreal this Sunday. The young midfielder, who had started to work normally, has followed a specific plan to be available at La Cerámica, which reflects the importance for the azulgrana team to count on him in the final stretch before the Christmas break.
A rushed return with little rest
The initial intention of the coaching staff was for Pedri to rest this week after the match against Osasuna, but the midfielder himself had to take the field in the Guadalajara match -with barely 15 minutes to go- when the game was still tied. It was a short time, but “very necessary as it was in this space of time that Barça scored the two winning goals”.
Pedri’s participation in that decisive stretch underlines that he is considered indispensable by Flick: “Pedri is indispensable“, according to the unofficial assessment of the club’s environment, and he has been called upon whenever possible because the team has a different profile when he is on the pitch.
Individual plan and absence in training
The team’s return to training this Friday confirmed that Pedri is not yet at the level of his teammates in terms of physical load. Although the team was scheduled to meet at
So far, the club has avoided raising any alarm bells, limiting itself to recalling that it will be up to the medical staff and Pedri himself to determine his availability for the clash against the yellow submarine.
A complicated return to competition
Pedri’s recovery process has not been ideal. After suffering an injury at the Santiago Bernabeu, the player from Tegueste has not had a progressive return but rather an express one, forced by the needs of Barça’s calendar, both in the league and in European competitions.
The team’s situation, with the obligation to close the gap on Real Madrid in La Liga and with the Champions League campaign somewhat compromised after draws and defeats, has precipitated the incorporation of Pedri, who played 30 minutes against Alavés and returned directly to the starting eleven against Atlético de Madrid in a key duel.
He was barely rested in the match against Betis and also played 90 minutes in the Copa del Rey match against Eintracht and 89 minutes against Osasuna, which shows the amount of minutes he has played in a slow return.
Pedri’s tactical value for Barça
For Barcelona, losing Pedri would be more than a setback: he is considered the driving force behind the team’s creativity and rhythm. The club has been extremely careful with his recovery for this reason, aware that his presence significantly raises the level of play.
Pedri is not only fundamental for Barça at this stage of the season: his presence is also key for the Spanish national team. The midfielder is considered an essential player for important matches such as the Finalissima on March 27 and, later on, the World Cup in the United States, where Spain is aiming for its second star.
A saving move in the Cup
Although the priority was his rest, Pedri took the field in Guadalajara because the team needed him. In the unofficial words of the technical environment, when the team required fluidity and control of the game, there was no other alternative of equal level. His participation in that phase of the match was, in short, a “lifesaver” to ensure the team’s place in the Copa del Rey.
Today’s Barça is Pedri and ten more
This expression, used by some analysts and fans, sums up the perception of the midfielder’s importance: “Today’s Barça is Pedri and ten more”. The idea is that, although the team has other talents such as Lamine Yamal or a large roster of forwards, there is no clear substitute in the squad for the playmaking and play-directing profile that Pedri provides.
This assessment is shared by both rivals and colleagues, who tend to consider the Tenerife native as one of the best midfielders in the world in his role, especially for his vision, creativity and ability to link lines with criteria.
Looking ahead to the immediate future
If Pedri finally arrives in time to face Villarreal, it would be great news for Barça before the Christmas break. After this match, the team will rest until January 3, when they will return to La Liga competition against Espanyol in Cornellà, and shortly after that they will have to think about the Spanish Super Cup, which will be played in Saudi Arabia from January 7, with a potential cross in the final against Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.
Pedri’s presence in this tournament will be decisive for the Catalan team’s aspirations, which aims to retain the title and continue competing at the highest level in all competitions.
Will Pedri arrive?
Barça treats Pedri “with great care”. The club knows it cannot afford to lose such a key player and is therefore dosing his workload and adapting his recovery to the needs of the calendar.
Although his participation in the match against Villarreal is not assured, everything indicates that the team is confident that he will be available, since his quality and presence on the field are considered basic for both Barcelona’s style of play and for the most important challenges of the season.
While awaiting official confirmation, Pedri’s prominence continues to be one of the focal points of Barcelona’s attention, and the outcome of his recovery will largely determine the team’s aspirations in this decisive stretch of the season.
