Xavi Hernandez says Barcelona are not dependent on Pedri soon after the youngster manufactured a different recreation-shifting general performance in Sunday’s thrilling 3-2 acquire above Levante.
Pedri, 19, scored the only target in previous week’s 1- gain towards Sevilla and he arrived off the bench against Levante to rating Barca’s 2nd target as they came from guiding at the Ciudad de Valencia stadium.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Xavi claimed in his article-sport news conference when requested if Barca suffer from “Pedridependencia,” a expression formerly reserved for Lionel Messi.
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“Look, he’s an extraordinary participant. Do not skimp on the praise for him. He’s a player that excites me and a person that can make a variation. He is scored a fantastic intention [against Levante], but I do not believe there is [a dependence on him].”
Xavi has questioned Pedri to shoot much more and his aim in Valencia took his tally to 5 for the season in 21 appearances, one particular additional than he managed in 53 outings previous term.
Pedri skipped half of the recent campaign with an injuries, but his comeback in January has coincided with Barca’s return to kind underneath Xavi, with the Blaugrana growing from ninth to 2nd in the table less than the Catalan coach.
Sunday’s win was Barcelona’s seventh in a row in LaLiga, but they came near to dropping details in a pulsating game versus Levante, who have been awarded a few 2nd-50 percent penalties.
Jose Luis Morales scored the very first, but Roger Marti noticed the next saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, just moments right before Pedri, alongside with 17-year-old Gavi, was launched.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang levelled the rating and Pedri and Gavi related to hand Barca the lead prior to a 3rd penalty, transformed by Gonzalo Melero, appeared to have attained a point for the relegation-threatened house facet.
However, there was a late twist when substitute Luuk de Jong headed property a 93rd-minute winner, his seventh purpose of the year and his fifth given that Xavi was appointed.
“Luuk is a good choice,” Xavi added of the tremendous sub. “I would not say he’s playing a secondary position. I am joyful [for him] because he’s an example for everyone, how he trains, his professionalism … That’s why we have these styles of players.
“It was a hard recreation because Levante push higher, they go male for guy. We were being greater in the 2nd fifty percent, but we failed to engage in very well — we need to be self-crucial.
“Even so, we competed and had gamers that created the variation, like Luuk and Ter Stegen, so I am content. There is a successful mentality and they are 3 golden details.”
Barca remain second in the desk, 12 factors driving leaders Real Madrid with 1 sport in hand but just eight to perform.
“Profitable the league is nevertheless tricky,” Xavi conceded. “Madrid never slip up. If they drop points in the following two months…”
Barca are again in action on Thursday at household to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarterfinal right before they host Cadiz in LaLiga next Monday. Madrid, in the meantime, vacation to third-placed Sevilla on Sunday.