Barcelona coach Hansi Flick believes Pedri to be a ‘special player’ despite recent injury concerns

Just a few days before La Liga begins and everything at Barcelona seems to be interesting with the appointment of a new manager, Hansi Flick. Fans expect a lot after the addition of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor to the squad, along with Lamine Yamal, who had a fantastic performance in Euro 2024.

The Blaugranas had a good preseason until the loss to Monaco, which has raised questions but does not hold any official weight in the actual campaign. The opening game against Valencia will be a crucial test for the German, as he is expected to field his strongest possible eleven. Midfielder Pedri could be present in the starting lineup, and even Flick spoke about him.

Addressing the pre-match press conference, Hansi Flick mentioned the former Golden Boy winner as a special player. He said, “Pedri is a special player, and he changes the team by himself. Perhaps he will be an option for the second half, and I’m sure he can help us a lot.”

Pedri played 32 matches for Barcelona last season, scoring just four goals and five assists. He will definitely look to improve under the new manager, who rates him highly. Injury has been a concern for him since his 2020–2021 breakout season.

Pedri’s Injury Woes

Earlier, the Spaniard was a crucial piece for the Barcelona midfield but was overused. In the 2020–2021 season, he played a total of 73 matches in less than 12 months, which is twice the amount a teenager should be able to handle. Then followed a string of injuries, which the club has been still dealing with.

Ahead of the match against Valencia, Pedri has been named in the squad, but it remains to be seen whether he plays or not.