There are several players who have taken their game a notch upwards since the arrival of Hansi Flick on the FC Barcelona bench. The case for some of these players is quite obvious, as numbers support the step up that forwards like Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal have taken.
But other players like Inigo Martinez and Jules Kounde are also performing at a very high level this season, and have been crucial in keeping the team’s backline stable and air-tight.
Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo notes that the midfielder Pedri has also clearly stepped up his game as well, and is displaying one of his best versions in the Barcelona shirt.
The Canarian seems to have finally overcome his injuries, and his physical condition has been quite good as he has enjoyed a consistent run of games since the start of the season. Flick trusts him a lot, but the step up he has taken cannot be explained solely by this increased confidence from the manager or his physical wellness.
His entire stature in the team has grown this season, as instead of making noise with his words or goals, he has made himself prominent with the way he receives the ball and leads his team on the pitch.
Hansi Flick has played the Canarian in different midfield positions this season. While playing as an interior midfielder, he is responsible for dictating the pace of the game and helps keep his team highly dynamic by feeding balls to the forwards like Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, or Dani Olmo, as was clear in the game against Bayern Munich.
When playing more deeply, as one of the pivots, he brings a lot of calm and stability to the Barcelona midfield. In this role, he excels in helping his team keep hold of the ball.
There is no doubt that both the defense and the forward line are performing at a very high level this season. But playing between them, Pedri has been doing his work in silence while remaining a very important part of the team.