Pedri and Koeman give Barcelona reasons to be cheerful

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There were positives in defeat to Getafe

A first defeat of the season against an over-zealous (and that’s putting it politely) Getafe side, is a little deflating because better finishing from Antoine Griezmann and more luck in front of goal generally would’ve seen Barca come away from the Coliseum Alfonso Perez with at least a point.

Jose Bordalas had set his stall out quite early, the side from Madrid would rough Barca’s players up at every opportunity and disrupt their flow.

On another day, the visitors would’ve benefitted from better refereeing, but as it was, both the on-pitch officials and those in the VAR room clearly had an off day.

In any event, there were still elements of the game and Barca’s play which will give hope to all culers.

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Watching Pedri pirouette and dance balletically through the midfield was an absolute joy to behold, and his passing range was generally on point too. Witness his sublime pass into Griezmann for a chance that the Frenchman should’ve buried by way of example.

Allan Nyom made sure to let the 17-year-old know he was there on multiple occasions, but as Sinatra famously sang; ‘The record shows, I took the blows and did it my way.’

That Pedri did, and there’s certainly much, much more to come from the young man.

Kudos too to Ronald Koeman for handing Pedri his first start, and generally being true to his word of giving everyone the opportunity to play if their form deserves it.

Indeed, there has been much to admire in the Dutchman’s management style thus far.

Though training sessions have, apparently, been that much harder, the players have espoused in various interviews how much more they’re enjoying things in that regard.

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Keeping every player on their toes in terms of game time has translated onto the pitch where, in the main, the team have looked focussed, energetic and hungry.

Save for perhaps Griezmann, there haven’t been too many dissenting voices from the dressing room either, which, when you consider the mess the club was in when Koeman arrived, and just after, has to account for something.

The team are all pulling in the same direction again and four games in isn’t the time to judge the relative merits or demerits of the squad.

From what we can see, things are back on an upward trajectory, and the only real shame with Saturday’s result is that we couldn’t take advantage of Real Madrid’s slip-up before heading into El Clasico next weekend.

Onwards and upwards.

Source: barcablaugranes.com