When Barcelona hosts Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final match, they are aiming for an unexpected comeback. Three weeks ago, Hansi Flick’s team lost 4-0 in the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. To continue defending the crown they won the previous season, they need to improve on that score.
Pedri, the talismanic midfielder, had just returned after a month-long absence due to a hamstring injury; thus, the Catalans were without him for that game. According to Esport3 (via MD), he is ready to start on Tuesday and is confident that Barcelona can overcome the four-goal deficit from the first leg.
One of the worst games we’ve played this season was the first leg. With or without the ball, we didn’t accomplish anything we’re accustomed to. We had an opportunity to get retribution on Tuesday, but they ran us over. “We had already returned from games when we were losing last year. Why can’t we return in ninety minutes if we were able to do so in twenty? We are the only team in the world that can accomplish it.
Pedri believes strongly in Barcelona’s comeback vs Atletico Madrid
When he entered the game this past weekend against Villarreal, it was evident that Pedri, who controls everything for Barcelona on the field, had a significant impact on the squad. The Spaniard admitted, “At the beginning of every match, I watch the opposing team, analyse them and see where we can find space, how they press and understand what the match requires”, providing insight into his perspective of the game.
It doesn’t always work, but occasionally it does. I strive to be a second ahead of me and predict what will happen. I tend to appear worse if I have to use my body. You use intuition to obtain additional balls.
One of Barcelona’s best players, he also studied how to avoid being man-marked. Playing with someone who is always clinging to you is even more awkward. He said, “I usually try to get them out of position.”
When I have someone like that, I urge my teammates to try to give the ball to me; if they’re sticking to me, I’ll pass it back to them. I’m a player who wants the ball. I move about in an attempt to make them a little wild.
