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Posted on: Sunday, January 29, 2023 – 3:28 am | Last update: Sunday, January 29, 2023 – 3:28 AM
Xavi, coach of Barcelona, said that Pedri is one of the best players in the world in his position.
Pedri, 20, participated in his 100th match with Barcelona today, Saturday, and led Barcelona to victory over Girona by scoring the only goal of the match, so that Barcelona achieved its eighth victory in the last nine matches.
This victory made Barcelona jump to the top of the standings, six points ahead of Real Madrid, who can reduce the difference to three points when they face third-placed Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Pedri scored 72.7% of his shots on goal (11/8) since Xavi was appointed – the highest percentage for any player who scored at least six goals in this period – and the Barcelona coach praised the Spanish international.
He said: “He really makes big differences in matches, and if you also add goals and assists, we are talking regarding one of the best players in his position and he is still 20 years old.”
He added, “He still has a lot of work to do with the last pass, but not only Pedri, also Javi, Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, and Frank Casey, when he plays.”
Barcelona was not at its best once morest Girona, who failed to win in the last five league matches once morest Barcelona, and Xavi wants his players to be more daring in attacking positions.
He added, “We still lack audacity in attack. We give the right passes, but they are not decisive passes. We must shoot from outside the penalty area, look for good balls, and pass cross balls.”
And he added: “The Girona players put us under pressure and surprised us, but sometimes we have to think creatively and do more.”
He explained: “The performance that we presented in the first half hour of the first half is what we want. The victory and the goal came thanks to the high pressure.”
He continued: “I am satisfied with the victory, but we must criticize ourselves, and we must develop in offensive positions.”
Pedri participated as a substitute for Osman Dembele, who was injured, in the 26th minute, and Xavi confirmed that the French international player would be examined to determine the severity of the injury.
He said, “In a match like this, the most important thing is not to lose Dembele, as he is one of the best players in individual situations, and of course his injury affected our plans.”
And he concluded: “They will examine him and we will see, but he noticed something and it seems that there is an injury to the quadriceps muscle. It is something stored because he is an important player.”
Barcelona will meet its host Real Betis next Wednesday.
