There are concerns that the 23-year-old has been overworked and his form has dropped
Barcelona are facing fresh concerns over Pedri’s fitness following their 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid, with questions emerging about how the midfielder is being managed.
The loss highlighted several issues for Hansi Flick’s side, including their high defensive line, but attention has also turned to Pedri’s condition after he was forced off at half-time.
There is some concern in Barcelona that the midfielder is beginning to struggle physically again after returning from injury earlier this month. Despite being heavily involved last season, the level of Pedri’s recent performances have suggested he is not yet fully back to peak fitness.
The midfielder has played significant minutes in a short period, including a full match in the league last weekend, 90 minutes against Rayo Vallecano, and 160 minutes across two legs against Newcastle United. His early withdrawal against Atletico has added to worries about workload.
There are also concerns that Hansi Flick may be relying too heavily on the 23-year-old, particularly given his recent injury history.
A decisive second leg is on the horizon and Barcelona have a league fixture against Espanyol, eager to maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the table, but they will need to carefully manage Pedri’s minutes. His availability and condition will prove crucial if they are to secure their 29th league title and perhaps overturn their 2-0 deficit in the Champions League quarter-final.
