BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 20: Pedri of FC Barcelona looks on during the La Liga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 20, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

Barcelona midfielder Pedri clears the air over the comparisons between Xavi and Hansi Flick’s training methods

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

Since Hansi Flick’s appointment as the head coach of this FC Barcelona team, there has been a clear and significant improvement in the team’s performance. The German coach has been able to get the best out of a squad that has seen only minimal changes since ending the last season without a trophy.

Several Blaugrana players have stepped up their game, since the German tactician’s arrival, including the midfielder Pedri. The Canary Islander has left his physical issues behind and has established himself as one of the key players for the Catalan team.

In fact, the Spaniard was also involved in a controversy as he commented some weeks ago that the team was working significantly harder than before, which raised some question marks about Xavi Hernandez’s training methods.

Now, around two months after making these comments, SPORT reports that Pedri has clarified his intentions as he spoke to the media in the mixed zone after the game against Brest. Addressing that controversy, Pedri said last night:

“We do a different kind of gym training now. I don’t mean to say that we didn’t work under Xavi, as it’s been claimed I said—it’s not true. It’s just that we train differently, in a way that personally suits me much better. I’ve found a method involving resistance bands and other exercises that works better for me.”

There is no doubt that Flick’s training methods are paying off for Barcelona, as the Catalans still stand atop the La Liga table, despite their recent two slip-ups, and with last night’s win over Brest, are on the way to qualify directly for the Round of 16.

But this clarification from Pedri was also needed, as his previous comments had created unnecessary noise around himself and his former trainer, Xavi Hernandez, who still remains a Barcelona legend despite his underwhelming last season as a manager.

Tags Pedri Xavi Hernandez