Pedri talks Lewandowski, Xavi, injuries, lack of goals ahead of Barcelona vs Inter Milan
Barcelona will lock horns with Inter Milan in matchday four of the UEFA Champions League at Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Following the defeat against the Nerazzurri last week, the Blaugrana must win the upcoming match to avoid the risk of missing out on qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
While they bounced back to winning ways against Celta Vigo this past weekend, the performance was far from ideal. And Barça will need to step up and deliver in front of their fans tomorrow.
On the eve of the game, midfield sensation Pedri appeared in front of the media and answered questions in the customary pre-match press conference.
On the atmosphere ahead of the game: “We’re really looking forward to it. It’s a final for us that we hope will go well to qualify for the group.”
On his preferred position and physical condition: “I feel much better up top, more comfortable, but I’m here to help in whatever the coach tells me. I’m physically well.”
On the injuries in the team: “It’s true that we are lacking players in defence, but with what we have available we have to take it easy, we have the quality to pull it off.”
On the morale within the squad: “We need to improve in several aspects, we have to improve. We will continue to collect points.”
On how to deal with the game: “I see tomorrow’s game as a final… It’s a very important game for us. It will be difficult because Inter will be at the back and will be good on the counter-attack, but I believe in the talent of our team.”
On how to tackle Inter’s tight defence: “The coach asks us to move the ball from side to side very quickly, to find the spaces to unsettle the opposition. That’s what we’ll do.”
On the team’s current situation in UCL: “We would have liked to go first and win every game, but that’s what we’ve had to live with. I hope the fans support us, we’re feeling the affection of the fans… I have no doubt that we’ll pull it off together.”
On the lack of goals: “It’s not a concern. It’s true that we’ve been scoring a lot of goals but we have quality up front, and in midfield too and together we’ll continue to score goals. We have a striker who we know the quality he has and we try to leave him in the best conditions.”
On the sudden drop in form: “There are a lot of games in a short space of time, we have to rotate, everyone has to contribute… I think we will continue with the same dynamic, trying to win the games and now try to get back into the dynamic and keep fighting.”
On Lewandowski: “He’s a ‘crack’, he has experience in this type of game, his quality to score is crazy and he helps the youngsters a lot.”
On the club’s economic situation: “We want to qualify for the next UCL round for us and for the economic situation of the club, but we don’t feel that pressure.”
On the after-effects of the Inter Milan game: “As I said before, there are a lot of games with this schedule. When the game in Milan was over we were a little bit hurt but we don’t have time to think… We’re looking forward to it.”
On Xavi’s demands from the midfielders: “He asks us to get into the box, to score goals. The other day, because I was there, I was able to score and that’s what Xavi wants from us.”
On playing direct against Inter: “It’s true that sometimes because of the quality we have to play with more verticality. We have the players… And that’s what we’ll do against Inter.”
On the importance of scoring first: “It would be ideal, but we know it’s complicated: they come out very strong, they defend deep and the speed of the ball is the way to go. In my case, scoring is one of my unfinished business. I need to get more into the box. Against Celta I did it and I scored a goal.”
