Pedri's Presence Is More Important Than The Barcelona Strike Trident

JAKARTA - Former Real Madrid player Toni Kroos said Pedri is the best midfielder in the world and is more important to Barcelona than Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha.

Yamal, Lewandowski, and Raphinha have collected 86 goals in all competitions this season, making the Blaugrana still likely to win three titles ahead of the final weeks of this season.

However, Kroos, who retired last summer, believes Pedri is key to Barcelona's success under Hansi Flick this season.

"For me, players like Pedri are more important than Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, or Lewandowski."

"Mereka (trisula penyerang) mungkin akan menentukan hasil pertandingan, tetapi untuk melakukan itu, Pedri saat ini adalah pemain terbaik di dunia di posisinya."

"He's a player you'll miss when he doesn't play, whoever your opponent is. He's not just scoring goals or providing assists, he offers a solution," Kroos said in his podcast, Einfach mal Luppen.

The 22-year-old appears to have recovered from injury problems that have befallen him in recent seasons. He has made 54 appearances this season, scoring six goals and making seven assists.

Barcelona will return to rely on him on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, early morning WIB, when they travel to Inter Milan in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final after drawing 3-3 at the Olympic Lluis Companys in the middle of last week.

"I have observed what Pedri has done this season. In the Champions League, he is better than his opponents in every game."

"In La Liga, the differences (between him and his opponents) are also more extreme. If you lose a player like him, you'll notice him. He's the best."

"He's one of the few midfielders in his position who has the ability to get past the opposing players when there's no room."

"Players like Pedri help you in every area of the game," Kroos said again.

After Inter Milan, Barcelona are facing the El Clasico match which has the potential to determine their title against Real Madrid on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

The Catalan club will face Los Blancos with a four-point advantage at the top of the La Liga standings.

Kroos remembers how difficult it was to stop Pedri when he was still playing in the game.

"I experienced it myself, especially once. He beat us (Real Madrid) at home."

"Once or twice I thought I could beat him because he didn't look so fast, but he dribbled very well."

"I can't even stop it with a foul. He's not like Messi, whose speed of motion you can see."

"Pedri didn't seem so fast, but actually he was fast," said Kroos.