Sport

Pedri: I always try to learn from Messi

ports Desk, Nov 12 (EFE), (Camera: Oscar Maya Belchi).- Pedro ‘Pedri’ González is just 17 but is already one of the pillars of the Spain U-21 team and an emerging sensation for Ronald Koeman’s FC Barcelona. He sat down for an interview — via videolink — with Efe, in which he praised the role of Barça captain Lionel Messi, confessed that he is still UD Las Palmas’ number one fan and acknowledged that his challenge was to avoid comparisons with other players and carve out a name for himself in the sport. SOUNDBITES OF BARÇA PLAYER PEDRI DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH EFE:"At the moment it’s great. It’s a really nice feeling, although you are far away from the people close to you and that love you, I’m doing what I love, which is playing football, and I’m enjoying it.""I feel really happy to have the reward of being here and enjoy my colleagues, who are great people, and I’m pleased I’m able to give everything I can to the team.""It’s always a source of pride when they compare you to other players, but I have to be Pedro, make my own career. People have likened me to Iniesta or Laudrup. You can learn from those players, but you have to be yourself and shape your own career.""First I have to be happy to have got to where I am, which is already a reward. Hopefully, I’ll get the opportunity one day to be in the first team, it’s a dream that all kids have.""When I arrived (in Barcelona) I had just finished playing a season in the Second Division, in Las Palmas. I didn’t have as much experience as other players but I arrived to do the best I could and try to keep myself there with work and effort. I’m proud of what I’m achieving and what I have to do is keep working to get as many minutes as possible.""I saw it, yes, but not that exact one. I always watch the match again to see where I failed, most of all. I focus more where I fail than what I get right. I think that’s the best way to get better every day.""From day one he told me I needed to work for it, because it was very difficult to be at Barça and I think that I’ve worked well and I’ve shown him that I can be here and he’s placed his confidence in me by putting me on important games. I have to be thankful to him and keep working for more minutes.""It made me really happy, most of all I was really eager to play in it. The Clasico is a dream every kid has from a very young age watching it on the TV. I had the fortune to achieve that dream, and for that I am really grateful to Koeman and my teammates for making it so easy for me.""I think like everyone, a little stunned to see him (Leo Messi) in person. But after a few days (you realize) he’s just a normal person, like a friend in the locker room. It’s great to be able to play matches with him and to learn from him in training.""Great at the moment. He always gives you advice on the pitch, which is what I believe a captain has and what he is like, he knows a lot about what he talks about, for everything he has won and done in football. Messi giving you advice is a point of pride and I always try to listen to him and learn from him, as it will be really useful for me.""No, not yet, but I want to ask for one in the future because I think it is a souvenir that everyone in the world would want to have.""Yes, whenever I can I watch the games on the TV and I support them because it’s thanks to Las Palmas that I’m here. They gave me a lot of confidence and I was able to play in the Second Division, a really difficult league and I’m grateful for that."