Pedri will only be further motivated by comparisons to Andres Iniesta, so says Barcelona boss Xavi.
Blaugrana great Xavi referenced his former team-mate Iniesta while lauding Pedri in midweek.
Pedri has previously drawn comparisons to Iniesta due to his silky footwork and neat passing ability, but Xavi did not hold back in enthusing over the teenager's talent following a wonderful showing in Barca's 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao last week.
"How [Pedri] understands the game, it's wonderful to watch him play," Xavi told reporters after that game. "He reminds me a lot of Andres Iniesta, I haven't seen many talents like that."
Next up for Barca is a trip to Elche on Sunday, and Xavi was pressed on his comments on Pedri in the pre-match news conference.
While regretting any criticism that has come about since he made those comparisons, he believes they are fully justified.
"It came naturally to me to compare him to Iniesta," Xavi said.
"He reminds me of him, he keeps reminding me of him, I don't think differently. [But] I feel bad about the criticism."
Iniesta won nine LaLiga titles with Barca and was a key part, along with Xavi, of the treble-winning sides of 2009 and 2015.
The midfielder also won the Champions League four times and was twice a European champion with Spain. That is without mentioning his match-winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final, Spain beating the Netherlands 1-0.
Xavi, however, does not believe Pedri is afraid of being compared to one of the modern-day greats.
"Iniesta is the greatest talent I've seen in the history of Spanish football, that I've ever seen," Xavi added.
"This will motivate Pedri. I'm not afraid and neither is he. He's a very normal guy."
Nashville SC v San Jose Earthquakes: ‘A win would change everything’ - Godoy
Anibal Godoy insists that Nashville are already looking at their game against San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday as a must-win.
Nashville have won just once in the MLS this season and sit in 14th place in the Eastern Conference after a run of four without a win.
The Earthquakes, meanwhile, are bottom of the Western Conference having lost eight of their matches and recording just one win.
Godoy is aware of how their poor start to the season could affect their playoff hopes later down the line but is confident that Nashville can turn things around.
He said: “For us, it's an important week. It's a day we have to win, or we'll start to feel the pressure from other teams as they start to separate in the table.
“This league is long but if we want to get to the playoff you have to win games early on, especially at home.”
Liverpool agree compensation deal for Slot
Liverpool and Feyenoord have reached an agreement in principle over a compensation deal for Arne Slot to become the Reds’ manager next season, according to widespread Dutch media reports.
The Dutchman is reportedly poised to take over from Jurgen Klopp, who announced in January that he would be leaving the club at the end of the campaign.
Slot led Feyenoord to their second Eredivisie title last season after taking over the club in 2021.
It is believed that he topped the list of Liverpool’s favoured candidates due to his attacking playing style and ability to develop players.
Former Liverpool midfielder, Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title, and Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim were also reported contenders to take over from Klopp.
Slot had already confirmed his interest in managing in the Premier League, both earlier this week and previously when he was linked to Tottenham in 2023.
QPR 4-0 Leeds United: Shock loss for Farke's men seals Leicester's promotion
QPR thrashed Leeds United 4-0 in the Championship on Friday, ensuring Leicester City booked their promotion straight back to the Premier League.
Ilias Chair was the star for the Hoops as he scored the opener and assisted two more goals to ensure QPR will stay in the Championship for another season.
Lucas Andersen, Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field also got their names on the scoresheet in an emphatic win for Marti Cifuentes' side.
Leeds' heaviest defeat of the season was a huge blow in the race for an automatic promotion spot, with Ipswich Town just one point behind them in third place with two games in hand going into their away clash against Hull City on Saturday.
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