Pedri has admitted that Barcelona’s ambition to play beautiful football matches with his style of football. The Spanish young player has already established himself as an important player for both club and country, forcing Barcelona manager Xavi to deny that he was suffering from Pedridependencia – a play on a term that used to refer to the team’s reliance on Lionel Messi.
Pedri revealed to The Guardian that the flexibility given to Barcelona’s midfielders has helped him reach his current level. “I would try to play my game wherever I was, but it’s true that I would suffer more elsewhere,” Pedri said.
“Some clubs are satisfied with winning, however they do it. Barcelona wants to win but to do it playing the ball, creating chances, with this idea. I like this football more.
“Xavi has a very clear idea, model: he is very clear about what each of us have to do: the inside midfielders have to be between the lines, the ball moved from one side to the other.
“The things he did when he played – and it was spectacular watching him – he tries to inculcate in us. The interiors have to hold our position. If you get out of position, then when you lose the ball you can’t press the way you need to: you won’t get there. He also wants the interiores to turn, face the opposition goal.”
Pedri also talked about what makes him play a different style of football than his mates. “It’s having confidence in yourself,” he added. “You don’t have time to think but it’s trusting your ability, and you can tell when you don’t have that. It’s brave, too, to be physically strong, to take those risks; that’s not easy either.
Pedri’s Career At Barcelona
His current contract at Barcelona was extended last season and it will keep him at the club until 2026. Barcelona are trying to prevent other clubs from signing him and has placed a €1 billion ($1.16 billion) release clause for the midfielder.
The young Spanish star joined Barcelona from Las Palmas in 2018 and has since been a great addition to the team. Pedri made 12 appearances in La Liga last season scoring 3 goals and assisting once. He had a pass completion rate of 87%.
The 19-year-old central attacking midfielder played just two games in the UEFA Champions League before Barcelona got eliminated from the group stage. While in the UEFA Europa League, he scored one goal in 6 games.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are hoping to improve their squad ahead of next season. The Spanish giants finished last season without a trophy for the first time in many years.
