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Barcelona midfielder Pedri recently appeared on the ‘Martínez y Hermanos’ show on Cuatro, where he opened up about his time at the club, offering a glimpse into the inner workings of the Barcelona dressing room.
During the interview, Pedri was in a relaxed and friendly mood, revealing several personal anecdotes, particularly about his experience under coach Hansi Flick.
He discussed the adjustments he has had to make under the new management, saying that it is common for players to step up when a coach first arrives.
He explained that the initial games are a good opportunity to show the coach your abilities. “When you change the coach, the first games are always good to show him that you can play,” he said.
Thoughts on Hansi Flick
Pedri admires Hansi Flick. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
Specifically speaking about Flick, he shared that the German coach has implemented a method that boosts players’ confidence, making them believe in their potential and perform well, regardless of their age or experience.
“He has brought a method that makes you believe it, gives you confidence to play and you play well, even if you are one of the youngsters.”
One of the key things Pedri appreciated about Flick is his approachability. Despite being German, Pedri mentioned that communication is not a problem, thanks to Flick’s proficiency in English, which is easy to understand.
Pedri praised Flick for having clear ideas and a well-structured approach to training. He mentioned that the coach is very punctual, which is typical of Germans, and values strict adherence to time and schedules.
“He has very clear ideas and as a German, he is straight on time, and schedules, but he makes us enjoy it. I thought he was much more serious than he is. He cares about everyone, about those who are not playing too, he wants to know that they are well.”
Hansi Flick and discipline
Hansi Flick punished Jule Kounde. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
When it comes to discipline, Pedri confirmed that Flick has earned the respect of the players. He described how serious Flick is about punctuality, noting that if a player arrives late, they won’t play.
“If you arrive late, you don’t play, I arrive ten minutes before the talk so as not to make a mess,” he noted.
Pedri also discussed a specific incident that had already been reported by the media. He confirmed that one of his teammates, Jules Kounde, had faced punishment for being late to a session following the Alavés match.
“He already did it once, with a player, as it already appeared in the media, it was Jules Koundé against Alaves.”
Xavi was different
He revealed that under Xavi’s management, the fines for tardiness were significantly higher, starting at €5,000 and doubling for each subsequent delay.
Xavi used to fine his players. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
“He would double the amount for each delay, the first time it was 5,000 euros, the next 10,000 and so on.”
On a more personal note, Pedri shared a funny yet stressful experience when he was once late for a recovery session after a Champions League match.
Despite arriving home at 4 a.m., his phone failed to wake him, and he ended up being five minutes late for the session. Pedri described the panic he felt when he saw numerous missed calls from Ferran Torres and team staff.
“We arrived at four o’clock in the morning and my cell phone didn’t ring. I woke up and I had 12 calls from Ferran Torres, and 13 from Carlos Naval.”
As a result, he had to pay a fine, though he added that at the end of each season, the fines are donated to charity, with a small portion used to fund team meals.
“I couldn’t believe I had fallen asleep. It was a recovery session that started at 12:00 noon and in the end, I was five minutes late. I went into the locker room red as a tomato and then I had to pay the fine,” he remembered.
