Pedri Gonzalez is the glue that binds the Blaugranes and the pillar upon which they lean as he stabilizes them in moments of uncertainty. When Pedri is on the ball, you question the existence of magic for it seems the most logical reason for his finesse.
There was never a question of the Spaniard’s talent, for he had it in abundance. Instead, the questions that arose regarding him had always been centered around his history with injuries—the Achilles heel of his career. His recent performance under Hansi Flick, however, has proven that, when healthy, Pedri is practically unstoppable.
The 21-year-old Spanish international has played in all eleven La Liga matches and all three Champions League ones. He dominates against fellow midfielders in the Spanish league with the highest number of through passes and progressive runs and frequently adds his name to the scoreboard with 3 goals and 1 assist this early into the season.
His versatility in playing both the number 8 and 10 positions makes him even more valuable. Pedri’s stats are impressive indeed but not a true testament to his contribution on the field. The Las Palmas graduate exists so far beyond statistics that you never want to take your eyes off him lest you miss a game-changing display of top-notch football.
The elements of Pedri people overlook
You cannot measure with statistics his constant pitch awareness and beautifully precise passing or his ability to navigate tight spaces, regaining possession for the Blaugranes and lowering tensions. He creates space deep in the field and moves the ball forward, controlling the tempo of the game with the ability to play both short and long balls, cutting through opponents.
Pedri is embellished with immense tactical intelligence as it is not by luck that he finds himself in the perfect place to receive passes. His tactical awareness is one of the most influential skills in his repertoire, allowing him to progress the play.
What takes the cake over it all is his astonishing ball control and the way in which the ball seems to worship at the altar of Pedri González, obeying every command of his feet.
These are not just flashy skills because the 21-year-old knows how and when to utilize them. We saw this against Bayern as he broke their streak of possession and dominance in the first half with just a few seconds on the ball.
We saw this again at the Santiago Bernabeu where he paired up with Casado forming a two-man army. He literally brought his rivals to his knees in the Clasico which was a paramount display of his superiority over all midfielders at this current stage in football.
He has great chemistry with Casado on the pitch and while they may not have gotten a goal to their name on Saturday it would be safe to say that every goal that night could be credited to their display of utter dominance and aggressive playstyle in one way or the other.
He has integrated himself so deeply into the team that his absence sends ripples of awareness and the comparative lack of control for the Catalans is manifest.
This is why it comes as no shock that he has snagged the title of Best Under-23 Player in La Liga for October. He will surely acquire numerous more titles and awards as many predict for him to have a career akin to that of Iniesta.
And so we wait with bated breath for what’s to come as we have a team overflowing with talent and a coach who finally knows what to do with it. Players like Pedri are a reminder of the glorious heritage of Barca and a beam of hope for the future.
