THE SPANDREL ANALYTICS MULTIVARIABLE STRATEGY TO UNDERSTAND PEDRI'S RECURRENT INJURIES
In August 2023, I shared a report on LinkedIn discussing Pedri's recent injury from the perspective of Spandrel Analytics, offering insights, opinions, and recommendations at that time. That report (attached below) is relevant once more.
Unfortunately, Pedri has now suffered another injury, affecting again his right quadriceps. This occurrence prompts several important considerations:
Player development is an ongoing process that extends until retirement.
A professional soccer player must excel in all facets of the game, including tactics, technique, physical conditioning, and psychology.
Any deficiency in these areas can jeopardize a player's long-term career prospects.
Prematurely promoting young players who are not proficient in these areas poses unnecessary risks to their careers.
Pedri's current injury is a recurrence, indicating that the muscle previously affected, though not necessarily in the exact same location, had not fully recovered or been properly trained, thus limiting the entire muscle's capacity and leading to overloading.
Many injuries at the start of a career should not be considered "normal" and could potentially lead to a career-ending situation.
Addressing injuries requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach and a long-term plan of action, rather than relying on random changes like adopting Pilates or gluten-free diets.
Pedri, Fati, Gavi, Yamal … "Innovation" and novel training/rehabilitation strategies are essential to ensure a safe and sustained professional athletic career.