Iniesta is “surprised” by De Lafuente’s decision… and warns about Messi’s “trap”.

2010 World Cup finalist Andres Iniesta has expressed his surprise at Pedri’s absence from Spain’s starting line-up for the last two games, warning La Roja not to rely solely on Messi in their upcoming World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday night.

In an interview with Radio Cadena Ser’s El Larguero programme, Iniesta said he was “surprised by it, given my appreciation for Pedri and his status”, noting that the Barcelona man was on the bench for the quarter-finals against Belgium and the semi-finals against France.

Iniesta, who currently coaches Dubai United Club, attributes the decision to the nature of the short tournaments, explaining: “What the coach feels at any given time, the opponents you face and the level of your teammates are all very important,” stressing that “Pedri can play in any position he wants, but the most important thing is that the coach has a wide range of options.”

Regarding the difference between Pedri’s performance with Spain and Barcelona, ​​Iniesta said: “Obviously they don’t play the same way because they are two different teams. I’ve heard these comments too, but at the end of the day, this is the truth.”

As for the clash with Argentina, the 2010 South African champions warned Spain not to fall into the trap of focusing solely on Messi, saying:

“If they manage to do that, despite a very strong opponent, they will be the ones in complete control of the match,” praising the current Spanish generation.

Iniesta did not hesitate to praise Messi, saying: “Leo is capable of anything. He was crucial throughout the World Cup and his teammates fully support him. The difference is what happens on the pitch and Messi doesn’t dispute that.”

Iniesta stressed that “everything is achieved through teamwork, although individual talent has the ability to be decisive”, referring to the importance of collective and individual balance in decisive matches.