Handle with care – Barcelona’s new strategy for star midfielder | OneFootball

Pedri was the biggest surprise for Barcelona last season, moving past his fitness woes to become one of the most-used players at the club under Hansi Flick.

Pedri was an ever-present figure for Barcelona in almost every game, which came as a surprise to many given his sketchy injury record in the past.

However, Barcelona’s approach with Pedri has been vastly different this season, as pointed out by Diario AS.

Barcelona’s different approach with Pedri

The shift in strategy became evident following a gruelling Copa del Rey clash against Atletico Madrid. Hansi Flick admitted the team took risks with Pedri, who finished the match walking.

Since then, the German coach has adopted a much more cautious rotation policy. In recent fixtures, Pedri’s minutes have been strictly managed; he played only 45 minutes against both Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla, and 70 minutes in the first leg against Newcastle United.

Pedri has been handled with care at Barcelona. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Flick has been vocal about this new philosophy, noting that if the midfielder can only safely manage 45 or 60 minutes, that is exactly what he will play to avoid further setbacks.

Out of 31 appearances this season, Pedri has completed 90 minutes only 12 times. This is a significant drop from last season, where he played the full duration in 27 of his 59 matches and featured for over 80 minutes in another 15.

This cautious approach is informed by a study of the player’s muscle fibres conducted in a Baltimore laboratory.

In coordination with head of physical training Julio Tous, Pedri has integrated specialised strength training alongside his usual cryotherapy and Pilates routines.

With Barcelona fighting for every trophy in the final stretch of the season and a World Cup on the horizon, it seems the club view Pedri as a treasure that must be handled with care.