Pedri Praises Dembele and Warns Torres Before Barcelona Faces PSG

FC Barcelona midfielder Pedri has highlighted the challenge awaiting his team against Paris Saint-Germain while jokingly wishing Ferran Torres a scoreless performance in their upcoming meeting. Speaking ahead of a demanding week under Hansi Flick, the 23-year-old also praised Ousmane Dembele's development into a world-class player and emphasized the quality of the French side.

Barcelona face PSG, the reigning European powerhouse under Luis Enrique, during a crucial stretch that also brings domestic competition. The fixture will reunite Barcelona with familiar faces, including former winger Dembele and Torres, who is now a PSG forward according to the source report.

Pedri shares a close relationship with Torres through their time together with Spain's national team, making his playful remark a reflection of their friendship rather than a serious criticism.

"I hope he doesn't get lucky in this match and doesn't score. I wish him luck for the rest of the season. I have a very good relationship with him, and we talk a lot when we're with the national team," Pedri joked.

The Barcelona midfielder also reflected on playing alongside Dembele in Catalonia. Pedri recalled the French international's exceptional ability during training sessions but noted that his performances were previously less consistent than they are now.

Dembele has developed from an unpredictable talent into an established world-class player, according to Pedri, who believes his former teammate has finally realized his potential on the biggest stages.

"I saw him do incredible things in training; he was good, but he was more inconsistent than he is now, when he has taken off and become a world-class player," Pedri said.

Turning to the upcoming match, Pedri acknowledged PSG's strength throughout the pitch. The midfielder highlighted the French team's attacking options and its ability to control matches through the middle, identifying both qualities as significant challenges for Barcelona.

Under Luis Enrique, PSG have assembled a balanced squad capable of competing at the highest level. Pedri stressed that Barcelona understand the scale of the task against a team that has dominated European football in recent seasons.

"They have many strengths in attack, players who make the difference and know how to control the game in midfield. I'm not going to reveal anything new: they have won the last two Champions League titles," Pedri said.

Despite recognizing PSG's quality, Pedri rejected the suggestion that the encounter should be treated as a final. He said Barcelona want to maintain their positive momentum while using the contest to measure their current level against elite opposition.

"It's a difficult match against a tough opponent, but it's not a final. We want to win and maintain our good momentum. It's a match to see where we stand," Pedri explained.