02.08.2008 16:49
From Pedrito to Pedro
Sandra Sarmiento / David Saura (enviats especials)
A yea ago Pedrito was preparing to help Barça B in their promotion-winning campaign, now he has asked to be called Pedro and is the only youth team product to have played in all three of the first team's pre-season friendlies.
The Canarian forward, who will be 20 later this month, is enjoying the step up under Pep Guardiola
and hopes to be able to do enough to impress in order to stay around the senior players. The coach
knows all of Pedro's attributes after he was a key member of the B side that won promotion back to
la Segunda B at the first time of asking last term.
Delighted
After netting his first goal in the 6-0 win over Hibernian, Pedro looks
comfortable at the highest level and he is revelling in his chance. "I am delight to be in this
situation," he told Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat. "It is great and I hope to be able to
continue contributing."
Imposing character
Guardiola is not giving any of the youth team players that have been
promoted this summer special treatment. "He only wants us to play like we know how and to keep
trying things out," Pedro continued. "He knows what I can do. He is a coach that imposes his
character, discipline and his philosophy on the style of play. He did that with Barça B and now the
first team is responding well to it."
Coach’s decision
Following the game against Fiorentina in midweek, Guardiola explained that he had named Pedro
in his starting team to see what he could do at the next level. That took the 19-year-old's
pre-season tally to 155 minutes and he is enjoying himself. "The coach must decide if I have more
time or not," the player said. "If he gives me more chances I will continue to give my best."
Earning a place
During the final weeks of last season, Pedrito, as he was still known, was given his first taste of
first team action by Frank Rijkaard in the games Murcia and Valladolid. That moment was to make a
big impression on the youngster, but now Pedro wants some more despite the competition for places
in the squad. "It is very difficult to win a place in the first team because there are some very
good players, above all going forward," he said. "But I will continue to work hard for a chance."