"Flick told me to dominate the midfield; I like to run the game through me"

Despite his youth, Barca midfielder Pedri is not afraid to become one of the leaders of Hansi Flick's Barcelona, a coach who, as he explained in an interview with ‘EFE’, asked him at the beginning of the season to ‘take a step forward’.
With the arrival of the German coach last summer, the Canary Islands player has not only left behind the muscular injuries that halted his progression in the last three seasons, but, placed somewhat further away from the box, he has become the orchestra director of a team that is likely to fight to win all the titles.
"I really like this position because I am in contact with the ball, I touch a lot of balls, the game goes through me. I feel more comfortable, and I've learned how to position myself better in defence," he said.
The statistics prove him right. Among all the players who play in the five big European leagues and European competitions, Pedri is the one who has given the most pre-assists, with 7 previous passes that have led to an assist for a goal.
According to the Spanish international, Flick's confidence has been key to his improvement - "he told me he wanted me to dominate the midfield" - and he takes it naturally to be one of the leaders in the dressing room.
"There are a lot of young players and because of my seniority I should be one of the leaders. I like being one, it's a role I'm not afraid of, far from it. I simply want to take it on and try to help Barça win titles", he added.