FCBARCELONA.CAT

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."