Pedri: 'El Clásico is a dream but Getafe comes first'
Pedri is a new face at Barça, but Barça is nothing new to him. He has been following the club since he was a kid, and now that his dream has come true and he is actually playing for the team, he spoke to Sport and Mundo Deportivo about his first impressions.
New club
"I was nervous on the first day before meeting my heroes. It’s something I had dreamt about since I was a kid.”
"I am here to work hard and improve every day. I’m very pleased with the way things have gone so far and hope it continues. I want to play as much as possible.”
Ronald Koeman
"He’s a very intense coach. Personally I really like the way he wants quick pressure as soon as we lose the ball. He makes sure of every detail.”
"He’s asked me to be who I am. To do what I did at Las Palmas. I like playing between defence and midfield and turning to face the centre backs. I think I can help the team a lot in that area.”
The squad
"We are a team and have to play as a unit. We must support each other and listen to the veterans so they can pass their legacy on to us.”
"I feel closed to ‘Trincas’ because we trained together in isolation because of Covid-19. We arrived at the same time and were in the same hotel. I also talk a lot to Riqui Puig and Iñaki Peña because I know them from playing for Spain together.”
"They’re all good to me. They ask how I am, tell me to enjoy it, and their comments inspire me to keep running and working. What they most tell me is never to stop working hard because only through effort can get where you want to be.”
Leo Messi
"I’ve had a good relationship with Messi since the very first day. Playing with him is something else. We all know what he can do on the pitch and he is a joy to watch. This is my chance to learn what I can from him.”
Teamwork
"The pace is what has surprised me most. You see that in training, the ball moves much faster than I was used to.”
"I’ve been watching the Barça passing game all my life, so it’s not so hard to adapt. Sometimes I feel like I grew up here, I have watched so much Barça since I was little and all that stays in your head.”
"My ideal place is in the middle but I can go out onto the wings. I’ll go wherever the boss tells me.”
Challenges
"You need to leave your fears behind in football. You need to stay calm if you want to do well.”
"But I don’t set myself targets. I just concentrate on working hard and enjoying my football.”
"Playing in the Champions League or a Clásico is every kid’s dream. It would be the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. But first we have a game with Getafe and we want the three points.”
