Pedri Reveals Key Battle That Could Decide Barcelona vs PSG Champions League Clash

Barcelona midfielder Pedri says the midfield battle will decide Tuesday's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.

"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 at the pre-match news conference. 

Barca are looking to make up for last season's league phase defeat to PSG and keep their strong start going.

He would not call it an early final. "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."

Pedri said the demands at Barca never ease. "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."

He also rated the game highly. "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."

On PSG, 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."

Pedri singled out PSG's Vitinha. "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."

He was full of praise for his own midfield partner, Rodri, who joined from Manchester City in the summer. 

"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. 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."

Asked how Rodri differs for club and country, he said: "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."

As one of the club captains, he said he tries to help the younger players. "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 his heavy playing time, he said: "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."

He joked about facing close friend Ferran Torres, who left Barca for PSG in the summer. "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."

On playing without a natural number nine, he said: "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 also spoke well of new signing Anthony Gordon. "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."

On Lamine Yamal, he said: "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."

Pedri also had kind words for former team-mate Ousmane Dembele, now at PSG. "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."