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Villarreal midfielder Santi Comesana has openly admitted that Pedri changed the entire rhythm of the match during Barcelona’s 4-1 victory at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Pedri did not start the game as he continues to carefully build up his fitness following injury.
With the score at 2-1 and Villarreal still believing they could compete, Hansi Flick made a key decision in the 58th minute. Dani Olmo was withdrawn and Pedri stepped onto the pitch.
From that moment, the flow of the game shifted.
Praise for Pedri
Speaking after the final whistle, Comesana was honest about the impact of the Barcelona midfielder.
“Pedri calmed everything down. He took the ball away from us.” That’s what Santi Comesana acknowledged.
He went on to explain how Barcelona’s control increased once Pedri was involved in possession.
“With Pedri, the game stopped being back and forth. Barça had much longer possessions. We weren’t running after them.
Pedri controlled the game for Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
“He filtered the pass for the 3-1 that crossed three defensive lines and that’s when we gave up a little. We tried, but we no longer had conviction,” he admitted.
Highlighting Lamine Yamal
Furthermore, Comesana also reserved praise for Lamine Yamal, who scored a hat trick on the night.
Reflecting on the teenager’s performance, he said, “He has a habit of playing great games against us. Stopping players like that is very difficult.
“The second goal, for me, is a great goal. He also finished very well on the other two. But he also constantly took them on.”
Despite the heavy scoreline, Comesana felt Villarreal had moments to change the story.
He pointed out that his side created “very clear” chances, especially after the break, but warned that facing Barcelona demands efficiency.
“Matches against Barça are usually like that. If you don’t take advantage of them, they also create chances,” he said.
Source: Mundo Deportivo