Numbers show that Barcelona’s plan with midfield maestro is working like a dream | OneFootball

Upon their arrival at FC Barcelona last summer, Hansi Flick’s coaching staff, led by head fitness coach Julio Tous, designed a specific individual training plan for Pedri to strengthen him physically and prevent the recurrence of injuries.

Pedri’s quality and ability had been there for everyone to see since he broke into the Barcelona setup under Ronald Koeman. However, his recurring injury problems were starting to become a concern.

And, in order to address that, Flick and his staff put him on a special physical development programme, and a little over a year later, it is safe to say that the strategy has borne fruit.

Barcelona’s plan with Pedri proving successful

As highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, Pedri has played 73 of the last 74 matches for club and country. His most recent appearance came on Thursday night with Spain against Bulgaria.

The only one he missed was last season in January against Valencia in LaLiga, due to gastroenteritis. There has been no trace of muscular injuries for more than a year.

Flick himself once explained that, more than resting, what benefited Pedri was playing and then being substituted in the final minutes of matches. However, this season he has already played the full 270 minutes available.

Pedri has left his fitness problems behind. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The main reason for managing his minutes has been to prevent injuries. In the 2023/24 season, Pedri suffered three muscular problems, and in 2022/23, he also endured two serious injuries.

Last season, he featured in 59 of the 60 matches for Barcelona: 14 in the Champions League (13 as a starter); 37 in La Liga (35 as a starter); all six in the Copa del Rey (all as a starter); and both matches in the Spanish Super Cup (both as a starter).

For Spain, he played all ten international fixtures: four in the final phase of the UEFA Nations League (three as a starter) and six in the qualifying rounds (two as a starter).

This season, he has played three matches for Barcelona and one for Spain, totalling 73 out of 74.

Pedri has himself gone on record stating how he feels like he is at his best in terms of physical shape and fitness, and Barcelona, as well as the Spanish national team, are reaping the rewards.