Key factors behind Barcelona midfield superstar’s transformative season under Hansi Flick | OneFootball

Barcelona have been in phenomenal form this season, despite the fact that the club are trailing Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in the La Liga standings.

While much of the praise has gone to the excellent attacking trifecta of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, a key differentiator for Barcelona this season has been none other than Pedri.

Despite suffering from countless injuries in the past few years, Pedri has not only matured into one of the world’s finest midfielders this season but has also become the linchpin of the Blaugrana’s gameplay.

A recent report from Mundo Deportivo has offered comprehensive insights into Pedri’s transformative season so far and key factors that have led Pedri to undergo such a transformation.

Tactical suitability

Hansi Flick deserves immense credit for understanding the way Pedri operates and thereby, deploying him in the number eight position.

In this role, Pedri has shown an exceptional understanding of the game, positioning himself perfectly to link defence with attack – a machinery Barcelona have been looking for years.

Pedri has emerged as a leader for Barcelona this season (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The youngster’s recent performance against Sevilla indicated how effective Pedri has been this season, especially in terms of orchestrating the ball in the middle of the park.

Sure enough, Pedri leads the league in passes in the final third (434), creating chances in the final third. He created five chances in the Sevilla game alone.

An all-round player

Beyond his offensive contributions, Pedri’s defensive work has been equally impressive. This is backed by statistics too.

Pedri had five recoveries in the Sevilla game, which is quite impressive for someone who has had fitness woes in the past and operates in an attacking role more often than not.

Pedri’s all-round game is even more indicative considering the way Barcelona excel if he excels on the pitch.

Pedri’s physical transformation

Perhaps the biggest factor that has driven Pedri’s resurgence this season is the way the midfielder has moved past his physical and injury problems.

Barcelona, to that end, deserve credit for ensuring the player’s smooth rehab and recovery.

Indeed, Barça took proactive steps to address and mitigate his recurring physical issues. The club engaged Julio Tous, a renowned international physical trainer, to develop a physical plan tailored specifically to Pedri’s needs.

This initiative was not undertaken in isolation but in close coordination with the club’s medical services and with Pedri’s full cooperation.

To understand Pedri’s physical makeup in-depth, a comprehensive muscular analysis was commissioned.

Pedri is flourishing under the leadership of Flick (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

This involved a muscle biopsy where samples of Pedri’s muscle fibres were extracted and sent for analysis to a leading laboratory in Baltimore, USA, specialising in genetic muscular myopathies.

The aim was to gain insights into the type, quality, and potential vulnerabilities of his muscle fibres. The entire process was quite meticulous but the result spoke for itself, as Pedri has now gone back to peak physical shape.

Growing into a leader

But apart from his tactical prowess and all-round game, what has been particularly impressive about Pedri this season is his leadership.

Despite his relatively young age, Pedri has shown exceptional self-criticism and leadership qualities, which has struck a chord within the Barcelona dressing room.

This little transformation in mentality and attitude have reacted quite positively to make Pedri one of the leaders of the Barcelona team this season.

In this aspect, Flick, too, deserves credit for not only helping Pedri work on his fitness but also instilling a more matured and aggressive mindset. And the result is there for all to see.