Barcelona star Pedri opens up on challenging season marred by injuries

Despite his recent fitness setbacks, the 20-year-old midfielder has remained an integral part of coach Xavi Hernandez's strategies, contributing to Barcelona's triumphant La Liga title win ” their first since 2019.

In the past few weeks, the Canarian playmaker has made a successful return to the starting XI, gradually regaining his form as he strives to regain his prominence for both club and country.

Pedri acknowledged the need for lifestyle changes to ensure consistent top-level performance in an interview carried by Marca, saying, "It's true that my eating habits weren't bad before, but now I adhere to a strict diet. I am more focused. Unfortunately, I can no longer indulge in my mother's beloved croquetas, which saddens me greatly, but sacrifices must be made."

Reflecting on Barcelona's season, Pedri shared his assessment of the team's performance. While they secured domestic success, their European endeavours were underwhelming, culminating in an early exit from the Champions League group stage in 2022 and a disappointing Europa League campaign in 2023.

"The Champions League proved challenging. We lacked the expected luck in the away matches against Inter and Bayern," Pedri stated. "I had two clear scoring opportunities against Bayern, but failed to convert them. If we had achieved a better result there, our progression could have been different.

"As Barcelona, we aspire to triumph in every competition. We must strive to improve, ensuring such disappointments do not recur next season."