Barcelona midfielder Pedri spoke to the press ahead of their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. The Spaniard acknowledged the match is a heavyweight contest between “one of the best teams” and “the best”.
Asked about the high-stakes nature of the Barca-PSG encounter, Pedri said: “If it’s not the best match, it’s certainly one of them. PSG are a team that have already shown what they are, one of the best in the world, and I believe that we are the best. It’s a spectacle that everyone will enjoy on the pitch.”
“It’s a match where both teams will want to dominate possession. We are a brave team, and I think we’ll manage to do that,” the midfielder added, regarding the expected battle between two sides aiming to control the game’s tempo. He also mentioned Vitinha, whom he sees, like himself, as a player who likes to “have the ball and not be chasing it.”
When questioned about whether there’s a desire for revenge following the two recent Champions League eliminations at the hands of the Parisian side, Pedri stated: “All of us at Barça want to get our own back. The following year, you can achieve what you missed out on, and we all want to play in these matches.”
Despite the rival’s strength and recent history, the Spaniard admitted he relishes these kinds of clashes: “I prefer playing against a team like PSG because they also want to take the initiative and not sit back, because it’s more difficult to create chances that way.”
Praise and the Ballon d’Or
The Barça player recently received praise from several figures in football. Paul Scholes claimed that, with Pedri, he has a “new favourite player” as he is a mix between Xavi and Iniesta, while Aitana Bonmatí asked for “more talk about Pedri” at the Ballon d’Or gala. The ‘8’ responded: “It’s nice, and I take it as motivation. I know it’s difficult to get close to the level of Xavi and Iniesta, but it’s flattering.” “Aitana? If she says it, you have to listen because she has won three Ballons d’Or. You can’t do better than that,” he added.
Regarding Ousmane Démbélé’s award and his tenth place in the final list, Pedri downplayed its importance: “I feel valued at my club and in the national team, which is what matters. I also feel responsible on the pitch, and I feel the support of the fans.”
Pedri mentioned that Hansi Flick always asks him for a bit more and that he feels like a leader in the dressing room: “The manager conveys that to me. He wants me to take a step forward, not only on the pitch but also in the dressing room. It’s been tough, because I came as a kid, but I’m feeling more important and taking on that role.”
