Barcelona’s Pedri opens up about Hansi Flick’s strict approach
In a candid interview on Cuatro’s show Martínez y Hermanos, Barcelona midfielder Pedri shared insights into his experience working with the new head coach, Hansi Flick, and contrasted his style with former manager Xavi’s. From training approaches to discipline, Pedri’s comments gave fans a rare look into the dynamic within Barcelona’s dressing room.
Pedri began by explaining the typical adjustments players undergo when a new manager arrives, emphasizing the importance of the initial games as opportunities to showcase their skills. “When you change the coach, the first games are always good to show him that you can play,” he said.
Flick’s Leadership and Approachability
The young midfielder expressed admiration for Flick’s approach, highlighting how the German coach has introduced a philosophy that encourages players to believe in themselves and perform confidently, regardless of their age or experience. “He has brought a method that makes you believe it, gives you confidence to play, and you play well, even if you are one of the youngsters,” Pedri remarked.
Pedri noted Flick’s accessibility, particularly regarding communication. Although Flick is German, his command of English has made it easy for players to understand his expectations. “He has very clear ideas and as a German, he is straight on time and schedules, but he makes us enjoy it. I thought he was much more serious than he is. He cares about everyone, about those who are not playing too, he wants to know that they are well,” Pedri shared.
Strict Discipline and a Memorable Incident with Kounde
Flick’s reputation for discipline is well established, especially his insistence on punctuality. Pedri explained, “If you arrive late, you don’t play. I arrive ten minutes before the talk so as not to make a mess.” He confirmed an incident involving teammate Jules Kounde, who faced disciplinary action for arriving late to a session after a match against Alavés, a story that had already made its way into the media. “He already did it once, with a player, as it already appeared in the media, it was Jules Koundé against Alaves,” Pedri stated.
Comparing Flick’s and Xavi’s Approaches
Reflecting on Xavi’s management, Pedri revealed a different approach to discipline. Xavi enforced hefty fines for tardiness, starting at €5,000 and doubling for each subsequent delay. “He would double the amount for each delay, the first time it was 5,000 euros, the next 10,000 and so on,” Pedri noted.
He also recalled a personal experience of accidentally oversleeping before a recovery session following a Champions League match. After arriving home at 4 a.m., his phone failed to ring, and he woke up to numerous missed calls from teammate Ferran Torres and team staff. “We arrived at four o’clock in the morning and my cell phone didn’t ring. I woke up and I had 12 calls from Ferran Torres, and 13 from Carlos Naval,” Pedri recounted. Though he was only five minutes late, he still had to pay the fine, noting that the funds collected from fines are donated to charity, with a portion used for team meals.
Pedri’s insights provide fans with an understanding of the discipline and culture instilled by different coaches, shedding light on the evolving dynamics at Barcelona under Flick’s guidance.
