Pedri sees PSG as a measure of where Barcelona stand

“PSG are a very good rival for seeing where we are,” Pedri said. The midfielder spoke on Monday at the Paris club’s stadium, on the eve of the meeting with Luis Enrique’s team. He discussed the midfield contest and Barça’s form, praising his side’s recent momentum while underlining the quality of their opponents.

For Pedri, the outcome could depend in part on which team manages to keep the ball. “I imagine it will be a great battle. Whoever has possession tomorrow will swing the match; hopefully it will be us. We’re in a good spell and we’re confident,” he said. He expects a hard-fought contest, but does not regard it as a final. “It’s a very difficult game against a tough opponent. We don’t see it as a final. It’s a match we want to win.” In his view, PSG’s quality makes the game a useful test, not a fixture that will decide the season by itself.

That high bar is also part of what playing for Barça means, Pedri said. A defeat can quickly prompt talk of crisis, he noted, leaving the team with a responsibility to respond on the pitch. “At Barça, you always have to prove you’re good enough to win. Even against Paris, you have to win and show that you’re better than them.” He said he feels important within the group and tries to help his teammates, including by making it easier for new arrivals to settle in.

Pedri also outlined differences in the two coaches’ approaches. “Here we play more directly, with a higher line. But on the pitch, understanding a teammate is still the same.” He also pointed to a teammate’s contribution to controlling and protecting the midfield, and to the freedom that player gives him, saying the squad’s level has improved as a result.

Speaking about an opposing player he considers especially influential in creating chances, Pedri said he enjoys facing the best and having the chance to beat them. He also mentioned a friend with whom he has a good relationship despite them not being on the same team: he hopes the player will not get the chance to score and wants Barça to take the win. On Gordon, Pedri praised his quality and their rapport, saying he can contribute both in the build-up and in front of goal.

Pedri also stressed the importance of the coach’s decisions and the squad’s depth over a long season. Players coming off the bench need to maintain the team’s level, he said, which he considers vital as the season reaches its closing stages. A good start matters, but, in his view, titles are decided at the end. He declined to choose one match as more important than another: “Tomorrow’s game is always the most important.”