He seems shy, but he isn’t. In fact, he is one of those who spreads joy in the Spanish concentration in Donaueschingen. And although he doesn’t quite enjoy the interviews, Pedri González (Tenerife, 21 years old) seems relaxed and fun. And he has a message for his teammates: “I want to say that Nico is very bad at Play.” A state of mind that is reflected on the field, released as a playmaker in the Red that shines in Germany.
Ask. When was the last time you cried with laughter?
Answer. 20 minutes ago. We were at the gym and a physio took a bad hit and fua… Someone’s falls, someone else’s illness without the person getting hurt, make me laugh a lot.
Q. Are falls the videos that appear the most on Tik-Tok?
R. Falls, a lot of monkeys and food, especially chocolate. She’s a bitch because I can’t eat. I have it more than forbidden. They take everything from me (laughs). But if I win the Euro, before going on vacation, I will eat chocolate.
Q. Have you thought that less than four years have passed since you debuted in Primera?
R. Many people tell me: “It seems like ten years have passed.”
Q. And how do you handle that feeling of the passage of time?
R. I surely feel like a lot has happened because of the things I have learned. You are so immersed in what you do, whether it is a World Cup or a European Championship, that when you want to start thinking, you are already in the next season.
Q. What would you say to the 17-year-old Pedri who came to play for Barça B and ended up on Messi’s team?
R. May you enjoy everyday life and everything you do. This happens very quickly, when you start to think… For a footballer the most important thing is to find what is good for you. At first, for example, you don’t have much idea about nutrition or what to do in a gym. But, as you start to gain experience, you find what works for you.
Q. Has not having trained at La Masia hurt you?
R. It was different. The players who have trained at La Masia are accustomed from a very young age to a certain type of work that they do not do as much in other quarries. For example, another thing that is not from the game are the interviews. At Barcelona, everyone has practiced, they have done a thousand things with the club’s television. But when they catch you out of the blue…
Q. Has everything happened to you too much at once?
R. And on top of that, they take away the good things you ate… (laughs). But you adapt: it’s your dream.
Q. Have you spoken to Lamine Yamal about these experiences?
R. In the first matches of the Euro I told him to be calm, to enjoy. I explained to him that if he did what he knows, he would be fine. And we see how he does it.
Q. Is it true that you are with Ferran Torres all day?
R. Now a little less, because he plays Call of Duty and I’m very bad.
Q. Has Ferran introduced you to your interest in mental health?
R. Yes. One minute in ice water. He’s been doing it for a year. He gets into ice water up to his neck every morning before having breakfast and before getting out he also submerges his head. He got so annoying that he convinced me. And now I can’t stop doing it. I’ve been doing it for three months. It is good for my muscles, it wakes me up, it activates me. I recommend you try it.
Q. With the number 10 becoming extinct, how do you feel in the midfield position instead of in the interior?
R. I’m closer to the danger zone. Everything I do has more relevance to the game. Also goals and assists, of course. On the other hand, when you are a little further back you help carry the ball forward. It is true that in today’s football there are few coaches who use a playmaker. But there are many players with qualities to play there. It is a position in which I feel comfortable. I enjoy it.
Q. Because?
R. Because when you receive the ball you are already in a position to face the center backs, to shoot or to provide an assist. It is spectacular.
Q. Did they play videos to show you how to move in that area?
R. Yes, at first. Luis (de la Fuente) told me that he wanted me to play in that position. He explained to me how he had to press, where I had to position myself when we had the ball. He showed me videos of other players from the national team’s matches. He wanted him to see the game model so that he understood the position of the playmaker. He also showed me videos of me at Barça to analyze what I had to change and what he wanted me to improve.
Q. Which players catch your attention?
R. Many people. Wirtz has had a great season. Musiala, who I have faced him, I like a lot. We have already seen the season that Bellingham had. And I shared a locker room with Grizi. He is a player that I love.
Q. Griezmann has reinvented his position a bit.
R. Now he is like a false forward. He makes people play, scores goals, gives assists. He is super complete. When he was at Barcelona I laughed a lot. Very good people.
Q. And when you were a child, who did you pay attention to?
R. I have paid a lot of attention to Iniesta. He didn’t play in that 10 position, but he had the qualities to do so. In reality, he could play anywhere: winger, inside, outside. He had that ability to turn. David Silva also turned spectacularly. Players who know how to be between the lines, who know how to shape themselves to have an advantage over their rival.
Q. Is the twist the most important thing?
R. With good control you can now face the center directly. If you have your back turned, the midfielder comes to you, you can no longer turn around and everything becomes a little more complicated.
Q. How far in advance do you think about what you are going to do?
R. When I’m on the field I don’t think too much. Improvised. I shoot with the first thing that comes to mind. I know that there are also many people who visualize plays or situations that can happen in a game before the game. I do not do it. I prefer to go to the countryside and do whatever comes out.
Q. And what do you think about before the games?
R. I try to be calm, I listen to the music playing in the locker room. Now we made a list with our classmates in which each one put a song. I put on Zero Hour by Myke Towers. Alright. At least no one says to remove it when it rings.
Q. Did you like any Euro team?
R. Germany is at a spectacular level. There are teams like England and France, who may not be playing a great role, but they have players who are going to get hooked at any moment.
Q. Don’t you see that the title is between Spain and Germany?
R. No not at all. There are teams that are not having a good level, but that are going to give the best. There are people who say that you have to lose a game, look at the example of Argentina in the World Cup.
Q. Is the player also winning?
R. When you gain minutes you settle into the team. In a national team you don’t know your teammates as much and you gain confidence. Surely we will improve.
Q. It has arrived fresher, but without as much rhythm.
R. When you don’t have competition rhythm it shows. But when your legs are looser, you go all out. They always say that quality players don’t have to run or defend, but I don’t think like that. When everyone works, the team does better.
Q. Do you finish games more tired than usual?
R. I’m not very good. Above all, for the work I have done to get there. I have found something that has been very useful to me.
Q. What is it?
R. A specific job for me. It’s a secret (laughs).
Q. How do you deal with marketing?
R. Well, I’m doing well. At first I didn’t like it very much, but I’ve accepted it. The situation deserves it. It depends on what, I like it. There are some funnier ones.
Q. For example.
R. When I take photos for a campaign I get a little lazy, but then when I see the result I like it.
Q. When you arrive in a city and see yourself on the posters, what do you think?
R. Let’s see if I came out handsome (laughs). My mother always passes them to me. The one in Doha was huge.
Q. Who was the last time you made someone cry with laughter?
R. I haven’t made anyone cry with laughter here yet. But I’ll do it. I’m going to make Ferran Torres cry with laughter.
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