Pedro Rodriguez knows superior to most that Chelsea don’t confront Mission Impossible in their last-16 Champions League conflict against Barcelona and Lionel Messi, on account of a standout amongst the most difficult recollections of his recognized profession.
Chelsea have to a great extent been composed off in front of the principal leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, in any case, maybe essentially, Pedro does not view the tie as an acts of futility.
Regardless of winning the Champions League on three unique events and five La Liga titles amid seven years as a first-cooperative person at Barcelona, the 2012 semi-last annihilation to Chelsea remains an extreme one to take for Pedro – despite the fact that he moved to Stamford Bridge right around three years back.
A stoppage time objective from Fernando Torres in the Nou Camp secured Chelsea’s movement into the last, in which they beat Bayern Munich to lift the trophy for the first and, up until this point, just time.
“This memory remains with me even now, an extremely pitiful day for me and my colleagues,” said Pedro. “I recollect a considerable measure of things: when you control the amusement and score the main objective, however then Leo (Messi) missed a punishment and after that Fernando scored with the diversion’s last touch to complete the tie… I recall everything in light of the fact that it was such a tragic day for Barcelona and for every one of us.
“I recollect these recreations so well. Chelsea were constantly shocking adversaries, extremely troublesome in these recreations: minimal, solid in guard, squeezed exceptionally well. Consequently, we generally thought that it was troublesome against them. For the players of Barcelona, they’ll be thinking this attach will be extremely intense, this diversion for them, on the grounds that Chelsea are solid. Chelsea are minimal, and it’s never simple to play against us.”
Similarly as Pedro was a piece of the Barcelona squad six years prior, skipper Gary Cahill and David Luiz were Chelsea players when the Blues thumped out the Spaniards, and Pedro trusts the ebb and flow squad can utilize that semi-last accomplishment as motivation this time around.
“Actually it’s certainly feasible for us,” he said. “It’s workable for us to beat Barcelona and experience into the following round. It’s troublesome in light of the fact that they’re an exceptionally extraordinary, enormous group, yet it’s certainly feasible.”
Approached if there is any explanation behind Chelsea to be frightful of Barcelona, Pedro included: “Actually no, not in any way. On the off chance that you begin with fear, at that point that hands it to Barcelona.”
Messi will land in London as yet searching for his first objective against Chelsea and Pedro has reminded his partners that, in spite of the fact that he rates the Argentine as the best player ever, Barcelona’s star man can be ceased.
“He’s the best player on the planet, yet he’s not powerful,” said Pedro. “It’s most likely a hard diversion for us, an enormous amusement, yet in the event that the group are extremely centered around battling together, you never know in football.
“We’ll have conceivable outcomes to traverse. In any case, clearly, it’s Barcelona. It’s Leo Messi. It’s exceptionally hard to stop this person since he’s brisk, extremely astute out on the pitch. Be that as it may, look, it’s certainly feasible.”
Having been a colleague of Messi for so long, Pedro attempted to portray what it resembles to prepare and play with him, and any semblance of Andres Iniesta, once a day.
“Continuously you look and attempt and go up against his (Messi’s) development and his abilities,” said Pedro. “Yet, he’s on another level. It’s extremely hard to duplicate him and get how he moves.
“For him, it’s natural and he’s novel on the planet. Nobody can do what he does. Consequently, to have played with him is exceptional. Uncommon for me, and a remark my children later on in light of the fact that, most likely, he’ll be viewed as the best ever.
“Leo Messi is the best player on the planet for me, however take a gander at the others that have been at Barcelona… Andres, Xavi and all the others, [Thierry] Henry, Ronaldinho, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, [Samuel] Eto’o… such a significant number of them. At that point there are any semblance of [Carlos] Puyol, [Eric] Abidal… the rundown goes on.
“I was sufficiently fortunate to play with them all, such great players, and remained more years with them. I gained such a great amount from them as partners. It was an amazing privilege for me to be there with them, and such a major piece of my advancement as a player from a youthful age, playing with this sort of player.”
Pedro won 20 noteworthy respects altogether with Barcelona and can be excused for the odd slip of the tongue, as he once in a while still portrays the La Liga pioneers as “us”. Be that as it may, the 30-year-old demands he won’t have any part loyalties over the two-legged last-16 tie.
“It was an inconceivable time with an extraordinary group,” said Pedro. “They’re one of the greatest groups on the planet. It’s less demanding to win titles there, presumably, than here in light of the fact that they have great players like Leo Messi and others, the best players on the planet. Hence, I’m exceptionally upbeat to have had my influence and to have won those titles with them.
“Presently it’s extraordinary. Presently I am here, at Chelsea, and shield the identification on this shirt, the Chelsea shirt, with amazing privilege and pride. I want to win this diversion and experience in this tie.”
And keeping in mind that a great part of the pre-amusement consideration will base on how Antonio Conte’s group can stop Messi and Co, Pedro trusts Chelsea have matchwinners of their own.
“It’s a decent open door for us, a great amusement to how our characteristics and what we can do,” said Pedro. “The players here, Eden (Hazard) or (Alvaro) Morata or Willy (Willian), are fast players and will be a threat on the counter-assault. They are roused. That will give us chances to score, without a doubt.”
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