“Pedri, Pedri, Pedri!” the La Roja fans shouted (actually asked) at the Martínez Valero stadium. At that time, the Spanish team was winning 1-0 and the ball was at the feet of Mikel Oyarzabal, while the VAR was reviewing a possible penalty from Mamardashvili against Ferran Torres, who had been left alone in the area, just after a beautiful pass from Pedri. People wanted the 20th goal, as much or more than Ferran wanted to be in charge of sending the ball into the net. Ferran won, as did Mamardashvili. Due to those unwritten rules (some absurd, like this one), whoever receives the penalty takes it, and the only beneficiary was the Liverpool goalkeeper, who saved the seventh of his career (31). Nothing new for Mamardashvili or Ferran Torres, who had already seen how the Georgian goalkeeper had also denied him from eleven meters in a Valencia-Barcelona match.
It did not seem like a coincidence that Pedri was the chosen one of the fans in Elche. When the Spanish team’s expedition arrived in Elche – at two in the afternoon, after the trip through the Dana was delayed one day – the Barça player, without Lamine Yamal in the concentration, was the favorite of the fans. In fact, Pedri was the first to get off the Roja bus and one of the few, along with Cucurella, Ferran Torres, Unai Simón and Borja Iglesias, who came up to greet the public present at the Port Hotel in Elche, located in the Industrial Park, seven kilometers from the Martínez Valero stadium. The love affair between Spain’s followers and Pedri is not new; Yes, however, this new role he has in Luis de la Fuente‘s team.
Pedri found his place in La Roja, as he had found before in Barcelona, thanks to Hansi Flick. “This year we have seen where I feel most comfortable at Barça. I have also had more continuity. When I have the ball more, I feel more comfortable, and I think that is where I can help the team the most,” said the Canary Islander last season, when the German had redefined him in the double pivot alongside De Jong.
It happened that, in the national team, Luis de la Fuente insisted that he preferred him as a playmaker, close to the opponent’s area. “He is so good that he could play in more positions, but he allows us to have other alternatives. What is clear is that wherever he plays, he gives us a lot in any position. He is one of the best players in the world,” the Spain coach repeated and repeated.
Clarify and accelerate
It turned out that, against France, in the semifinal of the last Nations League, Pedri started the duel (as always until then) in the midfield. And, since La Roja could not find the ball, De la Fuente ordered a castling between the canary and Merino. Since then, Pedri established himself in the double pivot. A pleasure for him, who (he insists) likes to see football in its face, but also for De la Fuente’s team.
“Pedri, Pedri, Pedri!”, the fans repeated again. It was not in vain: every time the ball passed through the right boot of the 20, La Roja’s football became clearer; Above all, it accelerated. He, precisely, initiated the action that ended with Yeremy Pino’s goal, participated in the penalty play missed by Ferran Torres and was fouled that ended in Mikel Oyarzabal’s bomb into the corner of Mamardashvili’s goal.
“When Pedri has the ball, things happen. He had already made two passes behind his back. I saw that Le Normand arrived and I was attentive. Very happy with my goal and to continue like this,” commented Yeremy Pino about his goal, Spain’s first against Georgia. “Does Pedri do something wrong?” Luis de la Fuente asked. And he answered himself: “He brings serenity and control. He is capable of bringing out the best version of his teammates, but he also has footballers around him who help him complete that best version. He is an exceptional footballer.”
With La Roja’s work resolved, it was time for the Barcelona player to rest. It was not a question of Pedri accumulating too many minutes and Hansi Flick complaining, as he did about Lamine Yamal, after the last national team break in September. With Pedri replaced, the fans had a new (and last) opportunity to applaud their favorite footballer: “Pedri, Pedri, Pedri!”
