Pedri talks Lamine, Rodri, Vitinha, Ferran, Gordon, Dembele ahead of PSG vs Barcelona

Pedri talks Lamine, Rodri, Vitinha, Ferran, Gordon, Dembele ahead of PSG vs Barcelona FC Barcelona and PSG square off tomorrow in a clash of the heavyweights in the UEFA Champions League at Parc des Princes. The two European giants met last season as well during the league phase of the competition, with the Parisians coming out on top. As such, Barcelona will be eager to set that record straight and secure a win tomorrow in Paris and extend their excellent start to the season. Pedri opens up on facing PSG Ahead of the game, midfield maestro Pedri spoke to the media at the pre-match press conference, highlighting the midfield area as a potential key deciding factor in the match . “I imagine a good battle. I think both midfields struggle without the ball. Whoever has possession will decide the game. We’re on a good run to do so,” he said. On whether the contest can be described as an early final, Pedri explained: “We see it as a very difficult match; we want to win it, but we’re not treating it like it’s the final. “There’s still a long way to go. We want to continue our good run against a very good opponent. We’ll see what level we’re at in Europe.” Opening up on the challenges ahead, the World Cup winner elaborated: “At Barça, you have to prove every day that you have the level to win. That’s the demand. “If you lose a match, people talk about a crisis, about how badly they played. You always have to be at your best. Even if it’s against Paris, you have to go there to win and be better than them.” On whether the contest tomorrow can be termed the best match in Europe, he added: “Whenever someone beats you, you always have that little bit of desire to fight back and win the next day. This match, given the style of both teams, is one of the best, if not the best. I’ll enjoy it more than anyone. Let’s hope everyone enjoys it.” Looking forward to PSG clash. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Regarding PSG’s style of play, he said: “They have many qualities. They have very exceptional players up front. In midfield, they like to control the game, to have possession. “They have players who have helped them win two consecutive Champions Leagues. I’m not going to reinvent the wheel. They are a very strong team; they won’t make things easy for us. We have to play a very good match to counter them.” On the midfield battle Discussing his role in the team and the locker room as one of the club captains, Pedri said: “I feel like an important player, I’m one of the captains. I try to help the younger players, to do my bit. “I’ve been at the club for several years and I know how things work inside. I try to help the new players, helping them adapt as quickly as possible. On the field, I’m also willing to help.” Regarding the volume of minutes he has played this season and his fitness, Pedri added: “That’s the manager’s decision. The season is very long. Every player who comes in can do their best; the squad’s level doesn’t drop. “That’s the key to finishing the season strong and competing for titles. Starting well, as we have, is important. But titles are won at the end.” The chat moved to his midfield partner Rodri, who has excelled since joining Barça from Manchester City during the summer, with Spaniard hailing his teammate as a game-changer. “Rodri contributes a lot to our defense and game management. He controls the midfield perfectly. He gives me more freedom to push forward because I know he’ll rarely lose possession,” said Pedri. “He’s a game-changer. We’ve raised the level of the squad. Everyone here is at a spectacular level. Whoever plays, they all perform very well.” On the difference between the version of Rodri between Barcelona and the Spanish national team, he added: “The two coaches have different ideas. Here we play more directly, with pressure and a high defensive line. These are things that change. On the field, understanding each other with a player is the same. In that respect, it doesn’t change that much.” The combination of Rodri and Pedri will come up against an equally brilliant midfielder in Vitinha of PSG. Talking about the Portuguese ace, Pedri noted: “He’s a truly exceptional player, one of the best, if not the best, in terms of creating plays and controlling the ball. “With the ball, he contributes a lot to PSG, and when he’s not on it, it’s very noticeable. I enjoy facing players like that. You get to test yourself against the best.” On Lamine, Ferran, Dembele Pedri also spoke about the prospect of facing his close friend Ferran Torres, who left Barcelona for PSG during the summer transfer window, saying: “I hope he doesn’t have much luck tomorrow. If he gets the chance to play, I hope he doesn’t score any goals. I’ve already told him I wish him luck for the rest of the season. We spoke when the draw came out. “I have a very good relationship with him. Even though we’re not on the same team now, we see each other with the national team and we talk. I don’t have anything to say to him, just that I hope he doesn’t have much luck tomorrow.” The midfield battle will be key. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) Regarding Barça excelling to operate without a natural No. 9 in the team this season, Pedri explained: “The team has many players who can contribute in that area. We’re creating a lot of chances. In the end, some of them go in because we’re persistent,” he said. The midfielder also highlighted his budding partnership with new signing Anthony Gordon, saying: “I get along very well with Anthony Gordon and we have a very good relationship. It’s very easy. I’ve been very surprised by his quality. We’d faced him before, but I hadn’t seen him play regularly. He’s going to contribute a lot.” Praising another of his teammates, Lamine Yamal, Pedri added: “I’ve always seen him eager to get going, to enjoy himself. You can tell he enjoys playing when he gets the ball and can dribble, score goals, assist… “He makes a huge difference. He shouldn’t be focusing on anyone. If he focuses on Leo Messi, it’s difficult to measure himself against the best player in history. He needs to stay calm; things will come. “He’s the best player in the world. We have to help him stay calm and enjoy himself.” The Spanish international also hailed the evolution of his former teammate Ousmane Dembele since joining PSG, saying: “Ous ‘ has always impressed me a lot. The things he did in training were beyond anything a normal player could do. I always told him he had so many qualities, that he was truly exceptional. When he arrived here, he exploded and you saw the real Ous. “He showed it at Barça , but only in phases. He was a bit more inconsistent. His consistency earned him a Ballon d’Or. He’s a world-class player. I enjoyed playing with him a lot; he’s a great friend.” Source: Mundo Deportivo