Barcelona time (CEST), September 8 — According to AS, Rodri has fully integrated into Barcelona's current tactical system, and head coach Flick hopes he can help Bernal regain his best form.

In his first appearance as a starter, the midfielder proved just how wise Barcelona's decision to recruit him was. Some new players need time to justify their transfer, but Rodri is different. In Barcelona's away debut against Valencia, despite not yet being at 100% fitness, he delivered an undeniably impressive performance.

The Madrid-born player still needs a few more matches to reach his peak condition, but his statistics from this game were already exceptional: 81 successful passes out of 83 attempts, a success rate of 98%; 54 successful passes out of 55 attempts in the opponent's half; 5 accurate long balls; and 6 tackles. He also hit the crossbar with a header, nearly scoring. The 0-5 scoreline demonstrated Barcelona's overall dominance, and their absolute control of midfield was one of the strongest evidence of their complete superiority over Valencia.

Flick's team had complete control of the match. This was largely because the German coach entrusted midfield control to Rodri and Pedri together for the first time this season. Although some observers previously questioned whether the two might not work well together, the practical results couldn't be better. Far from interfering with each other, they actively collaborate on the pitch. Rodri may be new to Barcelona, but he plays with the calm and assurance of someone who has long understood the team's playing style, having fully grasped Barcelona's traditional way of playing.

He constantly maintains an active receiving position to ensure smooth possession, provides good defensive cover, and allows Pedri to advance more frequently with greater freedom. Under his direction, Fermín can also play more aggressively. The Madrid native's display on the pitch is that of a true leader. Flick praised him after the match: "Everything he does, he does well." It is understood that Flick greatly hopes Rodri's presence can help the young Bernal make significant progress; the latter was also openly praised by the coach after the match.

In Barcelona's fast-paced, quick-transition team, Rodri is responsible for organizing play, correcting positioning, directing and controlling the tempo, and understanding the game's details almost perfectly.

Rodri knows exactly when to accelerate attacks, when to slow the tempo, when to press high, and when to drop back. In the big matches ahead, his crucial role will be vital, especially in the more intense Champions League arena, where this elite competition demands extreme precision and every small error will be heavily punished.

When he first joined Barcelona, it seemed like an unnecessary luxury signing, especially given the team already had many high-quality midfielders. However, his standout performance at Mestalla proves that Rodri's value is far more important than it appeared on the surface. Unlike other midfielders in the squad, he brings a higher level of competitiveness, overall control, and valuable big-match experience. Now, Rodri has officially taken command of Barcelona's midfield.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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