Pedri: we will restore Barcelona's pride against Paris, and I hope this player has no luck
Huge confidence ahead of the tough test
Barcelona star Pedri has crowned teammate Lamine Yamal the best player in the world, insisting the youngster needs help to stay calm and enjoy his football.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday ahead of the clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the third round of the Champions League league phase, Pedri said: "It will be an enjoyable match, and the team that keeps possession of the ball tomorrow will be able to tip the match in its favour. We are confident in our ability to achieve that. Vitinha is one of the players who make the difference, and his impact shows clearly when he has the ball, and I love facing the best players."
Asked whether the match counts as an early final, he added: "We are approaching the match as a very difficult clash against a strong opponent. There is still a long way to go before reaching the finals, but of course we want to win it."
He also praised Rodri's influence in midfield: "He gives us a great deal when it comes to securing and controlling the midfield. He controls the area significantly, and he gives me the freedom to push forward because I know he will always be there in his place. He is a player who makes the difference, and he has raised the level of the team. Regardless of who plays, everyone shows their ability to put in a good performance."
Paris this week, then the Clasico. On the twin tests facing Barcelona, he explained: "At Barcelona, what is required is to win every match. You must always be at your best, and go into every clash with the aim of winning."
The scale of the PSG clash clearly fires him up. "When someone manages to beat you, you always feel a desire to get your own back," Pedri said. "For me, this match is one of the best possible clashes given the style of play, and I will enjoy it as much as any player can enjoy a match like this."
His own role in the dressing room has grown, too: "I feel I am an important player and one of the leaders of the team. I try to help the young players, as I have spent several years at the club and I know to some extent the nature of Barcelona from the inside. I am ready to help them deliver the best they have."
Then came a nod to former teammate Ferran Torres. "I hope he is not at his best tomorrow," he smiled. "I wish him the best of luck for the rest of the season, and we talk to each other. I have nothing to say to him, and all I wish is that luck does not favour him too much."
Hansi Flick has handed him longer rest periods than in previous seasons. The Spain midfielder explained: "These are matters decided by the coach, but it is true that the season is long. It is important to maintain the level at all times, because this is the key point in the end, as titles are decided at the end of the season."
On the contrast between playing alongside Rodri for Spain and his role at Barcelona, Pedri pointed to the two coaches' styles: "The coaches' ideas differ at the two teams. At Barcelona we play more directly, and we rely more on pressing. But on the pitch, the understanding with a player does not differ much, whether you are playing with him at Barcelona or with the national team."
He saved his warmest words for Lamine Yamal, backing the teenager's talent without reservation: "I have always seen Lamine eager to deliver the best he has and to shine. He is a player who makes the difference, and he should not look to anyone else, but should carve out his own path. Lamine is currently the best player in the world, and we must help him stay calm and enjoy football."
