THE MASTER OF 'CUADRADOS'

CONQUERING EUROPE IN STYLE

Pablo Martín Páez Gavira, also known as 'Gavi' is having quite an impact at FC Barcelona at the age of 17. The attacking midfielder is featuring regularly in the starting 11 under Xavi Hernández (and previously under Ronald Koeman). The spanish wonderboy scored his first professional goal recently against Elche.

When playing in the pockets, a player must have an excellent command of perception in order to perform at the highest level. Spaces are tight, opponents are surrounding you, so being able to decide fast and correctly is key. Gavi, who has played most of his youth at La Masia, is used to play in this tight spaces, the 'cuadrados' and has mastered excellent perceptions skills throughout the years. In the sequence below (shown in detail in the video), we can see how Gavi turns his head several times, before receiving and when driving the ball to make the best decision and scoring his first professional goal.

Occupying the pockets, though, does not always have the purpose to take advantage individually. Many times, this type of movements that we often see in Gavi benefit other teammates, by attracting opponents and opening spaces.

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