ļ»æBarcelona’s manager, Xavi Hernandez, has openly expressed his strong admiration for his nimble midfielder Pedri. During the team’s victorious season last year, Xavi praised Pedri, stating, “Pedri gives us a lot of tranquillity. He makes every ball that goes through his feet better. I’m just calmer when he has the ball, it’s that simple.”
Pedri, in an exclusive interview with Š¼en’s Health, shared insights into the valuable skills he has acquired under Xavi’s guidance. “From Xavi Hernandez, I have learned something that I didn’t do so much and now I do a lot: look before receiving,” he revealed.
Pedri is referring to the concept coaches term as ‘scanning,’ which involves quick glances players take to assess their surroundings while not in possession. Xavi, with 17 years in Barcelona’s first team, became renowned as one of the best in the world at scanning. Arsene Wenger, after leaving Arsenal for FIFA, conducted research on scanning, emphasizing the importance of gathering information before receiving the ball.
According to Wenger’s findings, elite players typically scan “six to eight times in the last ten seconds before they receive the ball, and the normal players three to four.” Xavi, at his peak, averaged an impressive 8.3 scans in the ten seconds before receiving the ball.
Xavi, while still a player, openly discussed his thought process during a match, emphasizing the importance of thinking quickly and looking for spaces. Xavi was schooled in scanning at Barcelona’s Masia academy, and he passed on this knowledge to Pedri when he assumed the managerial role in 2021.
Despite facing injuries, Pedri has become a key figure for the Spanish national team, playing a crucial role in their journey to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 under the guidance of Luis Enrique. While Pedri primarily learned technical aspects from Xavi, Enrique imparted the intangible skill of “competing and knowing how to transmit what you want.”
In addition to seeking guidance within the football world, Pedri disclosed that he has sought advice from tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, a well-known Real Madrid fan. Despite the football rivalry, Pedri expressed his admiration for Alcaraz and mentioned that they have been in touch, hoping to meet him in person soon.