Barcelona plays its first game of the preseason this morning (4:30 a.m.). It will be against Juventus at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, a town located 75 km southeast of San Francisco. After the match, the Blaugrana expedition will return to Los Angeles.
Sportingly it will be the first litmus test for Xavi's footballers. Everyone has challenges. Pedri's is undoubtedly to improve his physique to avoid injuries. “I have had quite a few vacations to prepare myself physically, which is something I wanted to improve to prevent injuries, which I have had a couple of lately that have prevented me from enjoying what I like the most, which is football. I have done strength work. They put cane in us but it is the necessary work to be well, ”he said.
Tactically, Pedri has also set out to score more goals and give assists. Last year, of the 10 goals that Xavi asked for, he stayed at seven. Injuries prevented him from raising the rent. “I also think that last year I gave very few assists. Just one. I have to reach the area more”, acknowledged the canary.
Lunches and dinners in Los Angeles as well as snacks are taken at the Intercontinental Hotel. There the staff of the sports city coordinates various menus. "I have been told that I cannot eat so many of my mother's croquettes," explained Pedri to whom they have recommended that he should eat more fish to minimize the risk of injury.
The canary also gave his opinion on the choice of the first team captains after the departure of Busquets and Alba. Each player deposited their votes in a ballot box prepared by delegate Carles Naval. Araújo and Frenkie de Jong were chosen as the third and fourth captains. “Personally I think that I am still young to be a captain. It is a source of pride that some colleagues have voted for me, but Ronald and Frenkie deserve it because they are captains on and off the pitch", reflected Pedri. The criteria that have been followed to choose the leaders have been the ancestry and importance in the club.
Before training, the squad applauded their two new leaders. It also came to the LA Memorial Stadium that Mbappé does not travel to the summer tour that PSG will carry out in Japan. “I am neither sports director nor president of Madrid. We have to be on the tour and let them do what they have to do, ”Pedri said that he has a clear objective for this course. “Last season we had that little thorn. We want to improve and we have a good squad to do something good."
In this sense, he valued the seniority of the Barcelona signings. “Gundogan is a spectacle to see how he turns, how he doesn't lose the ball. And I'm sure we're going to enjoy it a lot. It is difficult to see him lose a ball and he transmits a lot of calm. Of the young people I have been impressed by working with Fermín. He has grit and quality ”.
And of the signings to other players that could go out. One of them is Ferran Torres, a friend of the canary. “Ferran is very calm, wanting to work and eat the world. One of the best things he has is that he knows how to focus on what he wants, which is to continue working, ”he declared.
