Pedri: “As a midfielder I create more danger”

In the rain, but with a smile. The only thing that bothers him about coming here is the weather, especially when he sees the pictures that his friends from Tenerife send him. But he is in no rush to vacation on his island. before, Pedro González He wants to be a European champion with the national team, where he plays a leading role in a position he likes, behind the striker. He plays near the place, he enjoys it, but that doesn’t stop him from working. He never stops running. “We have to work, because Gavi is not there. And it’s better to run to get pressure,” he jokes. He is happy and relaxed. This shows in the field and during the interview. He’s back.

De la Fuente said before the Euro Cup that Pedri needs to find himself. And it seems to have been found.

I feel very good, with more confidence, with a lot of desire and above all with the desire to continue with this dream of winning the Euro, because I believe that we have the team for it.

In order to find himself again, he needs to make some changes.

Yes, I changed my nutrition, my physical preparation, I started doing Pilates and I did a lot of different things to try to find something that suits me. I think I found it.

And some ideas that Ferran gave him. Soak for one minute a day in ice water.

Yes, although here I don’t think it’s necessary because it’s so cold. In the morning we always soak in very cold water for a minute. It’s nice to wake up, wake up and be perfect to face the day.

It has been a long time since he was with the national team. Did this change of context work for you?

Mainly to disconnect. It is true that in Barcelona I had injuries and relapses, but I wanted to go to the national team, to be here in a concentration with my teammates. I am very comfortable and getting better every day.

Furthermore, in a position, that of ’10’, where he seems to be liberated.

Yes, it is true, because there you have more contact with danger, with goals, with assists and with final passes that may not end in a goal but serve to leave someone and give an assist. Things like this are important for the team. I create more danger.

Before, he devoted himself to picking up the ball and bringing it to the spot. Now it’s more accessible.

Exactly. Many coaches throughout my short career have asked this of me. They told me to reach the area more, that I had to score goals and provide assists. In such a position it is easier. On top of that, I can play Morata here, who sets up the center back very well. For a ’10’, having a forward like this makes everything easier for you. It was a spectacle to play with Morata.

In Germany the ’10’ is Gündogan.

He is a player who can play as ’10’, ‘8’ or ‘6’. It has the quality of any of the three. He is a spectacle, at Barça from the first time I saw him I knew his talent. I hope he has a bad fight with us.

Which midfielders do you look up to?

There are players who may not play in that position but have qualities in the midfield like Musiala, a player who can appear as a winger but can play inside calmly. Or Wirtz himself. They are players who have been playing at a very high level for many years and you learn from them.

Musiala and Wirtz. Both are rivals on Friday.

They are having a fantastic Euro Cup; especially Musiala. Wirtz also played very well. Hopefully we can neutralize them in the best possible way. Obviously our midfield is also very strong and I think we have the best in the world in that position, which is Rodri.

Called, surely, the stars of the next decade. Pedri, Nico, Lamine, Wirtz, Musiala… They face each other for the first time. Do you look forward to it with special enthusiasm?

Yes, it will be a match where the neutral spectator, the one who is not from either team, will have a good time. Unbelievable. It will be a game with a lot of magic, a lot of dribbles, a lot of balls. I think it will be a very close rivalry and we hope to win it.

In the national team he has competition from Dani Olmo. But he looks healthy. A gesture his family made before Albania got a lot of attention, when they said goodbye to Dani with a standing ovation. Only them. It says a lot about how they experience competition within the national team.

Right now, for example, there are a lot of things coming out that one or the other has to play. Obviously whoever is performing will give their best and I have a very good relationship with him. I spend a lot of concentration time with him, we play tennis at Play, at Pro Clubs, whatever. We have been together many times and the opposite of what is said is happening. We are compatible and it is of immense quality.

They are even complementary in the field

Yes, in the last Euro and in the World Cup, we agreed many times on the field. He is a footballer I enjoy playing together and I hope we can do it in this Euro Cup.

They must have heard about the curse of the concentration host. Spain has never beaten the host nation.

I always say there is always a first time for everything and I hope this is it. It’s a curse that sometimes scares people, but not us. This motivates us a little more to try to end it.

More on the subject of an early final, will these two best Euro teams face each other?

They are two teams that have been consistent, both in the group stage and in the round of 16. We always play the same, the same football, scoring goals and winning games a little more calmly. That’s why it’s going to be an amazing fight.

Is there another option that caught your eye?

Switzerland. We knew early on that this was a tough team, but they had a fantastic tournament and tough opponent.

His group usually consists of Fermín, Lamine, Nico, Ferran, Dani Olmo… At 21 years old, he is already one of the veterans.

I enter the rondos before Nico because I’m from November, imagine. We are always together. With Ferran and Dani Olmo we want to doubt, we want to joke. Although once the game starts, the jokes are over and the play is over.