Spain will face Germany in the upcoming UEFA Europa League quarterfinals at 0:00 a.m. Beijing time on Saturday. Before the match, Spain's center midfielder Pedri was interviewed by Radio Marca, sharing his feelings over the past few months, his expectations for the match and his views on some hot topics.
Pedri began by talking about his experiences over the past few months: "I've been through some tough times, and injuries are the last thing a soccer player wants to deal with. When you're not at your best, criticism from the outside world always follows. But it's the physical pain I'm going through that upsets me the most, not the rumors. I know deep down that some of the rumors are not true, but I will respond to everything with real actions."
On the need to prove himself in front of the media, Pedri showed maturity: "It's the talking on the pitch that counts. Whether you score goals or assists, as long as you give your all and contribute to the team, that's the best proof. I don't pay too much attention to what's being reported in the media, but focus on my own game."
Regarding the competition with Olmo for the starting spot, Pedri said, "The relationship between Olmo and I is very good and we don't have any problems with each other. Whoever plays will do their best to win for the team. It's the strength of the team and our common goal."
In the face of Germany's veteran Kroos, Pedri is full of respect: "Kroos is a legendary player who has extraordinary soccer talent. I will feel very sorry if this game is his last game, because he has made a great contribution to the soccer world. But no matter what the result is, I will do my best to cope with it."
For the outside world about their own injury problems, Pedri said: "I do not regret that year after playing the European Cup and then follow the Spanish national Olympic team to participate in the Olympic Games. It was a valuable experience and I am proud to have represented my country. Although the injury did cause me some problems, I will try to overcome it and continue to contribute to the team."
Pedri doesn't care about Lehmann's comments about the Spanish team being young and inexperienced: "These words don't upset me. At Barcelona we also had a lot of young players, but we still won the game. Age and experience are not the only factors that determine victory or defeat, what is more important is teamwork and fighting spirit."
Speaking about Germany's Rüdiger, Pedri said, "He's a tough and very good center back, but no one is afraid of him. As for his choking behavior, I think that was a sign of disrespect. On the pitch, we should speak with strength, not influence our opponents with such actions."
Finally, Pedri expressed his expectations for the match, "It will be a tough game against Germany, but we are well prepared. I believe that as long as we are united and give our best, we will be able to achieve victory."
