Despite his youth, Pedro González ‘Pedri’ (Tegueste, Tenerife, 2002) is not afraid to take on the leadership role in FC Barcelona under Hansi Flick. As he explained in an interview, the German coach asked him at the start of the season to "step up" as the boss of the midfield.

Since Flick's arrival last summer, the Canary Islander has overcome the muscle injuries that hindered his progress in recent years. Additionally, with a role further from the box, he has become the playmaker of a team that, according to him, has "real possibilities" to fight for all the titles.

Happy with His New Role on the Field

"I really like this position because I'm in touch with the ball, I get a lot of passes, and the game goes through me. I feel more comfortable, and I've learned how to position myself better defensively," said Pedri. The stats back up his development. Of all the players in the top five European leagues and international competitions, Pedri has provided the most pre-assists this season, with 7 key passes that ended in goal assists.

The Spanish international acknowledges that Flick's trust has been key to his growth: "He told me he wanted me to dominate the midfield." He also takes his leadership role in the locker room in stride: "There are many young players, and by experience, I should be one of the leaders. I like being one, it’s a role I’m not afraid of. I want to take it on to help Barça win titles."

In His Best Physical Shape

This season, Pedri has found the continuity he lacked in previous years due to recurring muscle problems. He currently feels "very light" on the field and capable of making "several efforts in a row" without the fear of getting injured.

One of the key factors in his improvement has been the new training methodology under fitness coach Julio Tous, who joined last summer. "It doesn’t mean the previous training method was bad, it’s just that, personally, this one has worked really well for me," clarified Pedri.

Additionally, genetic tests revealed that his body responds better to playing consistently, so he prefers to play without long breaks. "My body struggles more to get going when I stop for one or two weeks," concluded the midfielder.