Pedro’s Struggles Mark His Final Season While Sarri Works To Revive Him

Pedro Rodriguez is living a very different season from the one that once made him one of Lazio’s most reliable attacking weapons. From a symbol of certainty to a fading offensive reference point, the Spaniard has announced that this will be his final year not only at Lazio but also in professional football. The club’s oldest goalscorer in European competitions intends to close his career with dignity, leaving behind a meaningful contribution after five years in Rome.

As reported by Il Messaggero, Pedro’s personal goal is to end his journey with Lazio by helping the team return to European competition and by pushing for the Coppa Italia. Yet, despite his determination, his current performance level no longer resembles the one seen last season. Under Maurizio Sarri, Pedro previously maintained high standards, matching his four goal tallies from his Chelsea period in 2018 and from Lazio’s 2022 to 2023 campaign. A year ago, he had already collected six goals and two assists across all competitions by this point of the season.

This year tells a different story. The Spaniard has provided only one assist and has been unable to replicate the decisive impact he once offered so consistently. Last season, he was one of the most productive substitutes in the league, contributing in nine out of eleven appearances. Now, he enters games without shifting the balance, partly because Lazio have become less aggressive and more conservative due to the repeated injury emergencies. The only goal scored from the bench this season came from Dia against Verona, leaving Pedro still searching for a breakthrough.

His relationship with Sarri remains one of the strongest within the squad. The Italian coach, who also managed him at Chelsea, has used Pedro more than any other coach in his career, even more than Pep Guardiola. Yet, even this connection has been tested by the emotional weight the player is carrying. Pedro has often appeared melancholic, influenced by the absence of European nights and by the expectations created after what Sarri described as an unrepeatable season last year. His total of fourteen goals was his best return in more than a decade, since his nineteen goal season with Barcelona.

His position on the pitch has also changed. Pedro admitted recently that he feels more suited to an attacking midfield role, explaining that he no longer has the physical capacity to endure the constant two way demands of a winger. In Pisa he was even fielded as a centre forward due to the emergency situation, a role he accepted but did not consider ideal.

Recognizing his importance, Sarri has promised to adapt the tactical system to help Pedro rediscover confidence and joy on the field. With only one goal contribution recorded by mid November, this is statistically the most difficult season of his long career. There is, however, still time to change the narrative.

Against Lecce on Sunday, with several attacking players still unavailable, Pedro is almost certain to receive another opportunity. Lazio hope that the veteran forward can find a spark, reverse the negative trend, and give himself the farewell season he deserves