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La Roja star mocks critics
Talented midfielder Pedri, a Spain and Barcelona star, has defended La Roja’s performance after recent criticism despite not losing a single match in the first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Coach Luis de Lafuente’s side opened the group stage with a goalless draw with Cape Verde before beating Saudi Arabia 4-0 and Uruguay 1-0, but it was not without criticism.
Pedri also discussed how injuries have shaped his character and how he is witnessing the rise of world football’s new gem, Lamine Yamal.
Sarcasm against critics
Realizing that expectations around Spain are always high, the 23-year-old chose to humor the negative comments after the game against Uruguay, reminding everyone that the team remains focused on the ultimate goal.
“It seems we lost all three matches because people say nobody is playing well,” he said with a laugh in an interview with a Spanish news agency.
“We’re good. We look forward to Round 16 and continue to improve. We know we have a lot of room for improvement to reach our best level. It was a tough match, full of punches and kicks. We knew it would be an interesting match. We missed two players, Beno and Neko Williams, and we hope they will be back soon to help us.”
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“What Yamal is going through is beyond me.”
Pedri also took some time to talk about Lamin Yamal’s current level. Not feeling jealous, the midfielder expressed his admiration for his partner and praised his mental stability in dealing with a changed reality overnight.
“I see Lamine in good shape, enthusiastic, very smart, very fast and very mature. All he wants is to have fun. I see him as very mature. What she’s going through is so much bigger than what I’ve been through and so much bigger. I see him mature, very calm. It’s important for him to play and have fun.”
He continued. “He loves big matches and doesn’t hide his emotions, and that’s exactly what he should do. Enjoy football and his life, which changed in an instant, and adapt to his new life and enjoy it.”
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The pain of absence… everything passes
On a personal level, Pedri recalled the pain of missing the finals of the 2024 European Championship due to a serious injury, an injury that has now motivated him to do his best on the pitch during this tournament.
He revealed that being away from the field helped him rediscover himself, change his training habits and understand the rhythm of the game from an outside perspective.
“I had to go through this experience in a way I didn’t want to, but this is football. Injury kept me out. I was facing this final and I really wanted to get to the end and I hope this World Cup ends with me on the pitch.”
He continued. “We learn something from every injury. Watching football from the sidelines is completely different from being in the middle of the action. You stop to think about why the team is performing poorly, which is sometimes hard to see from the outside. I have found a training method that suits me much better using resistance bands and stretching exercises…
He continued. “I’ll never know if the injuries were because I neglected this technique. We’ll never know, but it’s about understanding your body and finding balance.”
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He seemed to have benefited from the sage advice he received from his childhood and remained humble despite seeing thousands of kids in his shirt on the streets, so Pedri ended his speech by reminding people of the principle that guides his career.
He revealed. “My father told me when I was young. If all else fails, join the team.”
He emphasized. “That’s what I’m trying to do, of course you have to use your mind to run, but I’m trying to work for the team.”
With this collective commitment and the magic still hidden in his boots, the ‘magician’ of La Roja’s team is set to lead Spain into a World Cup Round of 32 clash with Austria next Thursday, where there is no room for error.
