Barcelona midfielder reaping the rewards of diet and training changes, reaching full fitness

Over the last couple of seasons, Barcelona have certainly assembled a team that can compete at the highest level of European football, and at the very least, go head-to-head against some of the very best.

Last season, for instance, Barcelona’s backline, under Xavi conceded just 20 goals in the league (second-fewest in La Liga history), and equalled a 20-year-old record for the most clean sheets in one season with 26

The midfield was also ticking, with Pedri and Frenkie de Jong finally clicking together. The former, especially, scored six goals through the season, which is his personal best tally so far.

He only played 26 games in the league, though, owing to injury concerns, which have been haunting him for a while now. He has already missed 68 games through injury for Spain and Barcelona in the last three seasons.

However, it seems Pedri is finally getting back to his personal best. After recovering from his recent muscle injuries, the Spaniard has now played 11 games in a row, which has not happened for a year and a half at this point.

SPORT reports that the Spaniard has made changes to his diet and his and changed his training methods, and is finally reaping the rewards for the same. The regular run of games is one of the indicators of this.

Pedri has also been looking much more physically fit in recent games. Against Napoli last night, for example, the Golden Boy recovered multiple balls in defence, and on one occasion, chased Giovanni Di Lorenzo for 50 metres before intercepting his cross.

He, of course, also got the assist for Robert Lewandowski’s goal, which is only his fourth this season despite being at the heart of everything Barcelona in the final third.

Xavi has also been very careful with Pedri this season, playing him a full 90 minutes only twice in the league so far, and once each in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.