'Iron Man' Pedri

The 2024/25 season marks a spectacular transformation for the Canary midfielder.

Every great team needs a conductor. A brain that sets the tempo, a heart that keeps the beat going for 90 minutes, someone who is always in the right place at the right time to make the difference.

For Barcelona now, that person is Pedri - no longer the fragile boy of yesteryear, but a true "titanium warrior" on the pitch.

Numbers don't lie

The 2024/25 season marked a spectacular transformation for the Canary midfielder. He played 59/60 matches for Barca, with only one absence due to flu. No longer the image of a vulnerable, injury-prone player, Pedri is now a symbol of durability, stability and comprehensiveness.

That's even more valuable when compared to last season, where he missed nearly 40% of the games due to persistent physical problems. Now, Barca's No. 8 is Hansi Flick's first choice, an irreplaceable name in the Catalan team's tactical scheme.

Pedri’s biggest difference is that he has the flair of an artist while also achieving the physicality and work rate of a warrior. He doesn’t just play well – he plays consistently, maintaining his form throughout a long season.

Pedri is now a symbol of endurance, stability and comprehensiveness.

Flick made the right decision to drop Pedri a few metres deeper, allowing him to cover more space and control the game better. The result? Pedri became the player with the most passes in La Liga with over 3,100, of which 1,718 were made in the opposition half – figures that reflect his all-round influence, not just confined to the midfield.

Barca's role

If Pedri had surprised the whole of Europe by playing 72 matches in the 2020/21 season - including EURO and Olympics - then that period also put a temporary end to his "immortal version". His young body could not withstand such a density of matches, and constant injuries caused Pedri to decline. But then, instead of collapsing, he chose to be reborn.

Barca are not sitting still. A muscle genetic study conducted in Baltimore has brought back valuable information: Pedri’s body does not adapt to long breaks. The more regularly he plays, the more he reaches his ideal state. A truth that defies common logic, but is the key to helping Flick re-open the perfect version of Pedri - a player who does not need to rest to maintain form, but needs… to play continuously.

From there, Pedri can not only play the role of “number 10” but also play the role of “number 6”, connecting the lines, organizing the game, winning the ball back and even scoring goals. Six goals this season is not an impressive number in terms of statistics, but the football Pedri brings – creative, fluent and proactive – is something that cannot be measured in numbers.

Flick made the right decision when he pulled Pedri back a few meters, so he could cover more space and control the game better.

That's why Barcelona did not hesitate to extend his contract until 2030. Pedri - a Cule since childhood - now has 200 matches for his beloved team. And more importantly, he has matured into a silent leader, no need for flowery words, just tireless running and tireless legs.

If Xavi is the rhythm arranger, Iniesta is the space unlocker, then Pedri is becoming a modern blend of both - in a more durable, steely, and mature form.

Barcelona have a glorious past. But with Pedri - the titanium version - they can believe in the future.

Source: https://znews.vn/nguoi-dan-ong-thep-pedri-post1558181.html