Barcelona midfielder Pedri reveals why he asked to be substituted against Galatasaray

According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday October 14, 2026, Barcelona midfielder Pedri has revealed why he asked to be substituted during the club’s 4-1 victory over Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Spain international delivered an impressive performance in midfield as Hansi Flick’s side recovered from conceding the opening goal to secure a convincing victory in Istanbul.

However, Pedri’s late substitution raised questions about his physical condition, given his importance to Barcelona’s midfield and the demanding fixtures awaiting the Catalan giants.

The midfielder has now clarified that he was not suffering from an injury, explaining that stomach discomfort forced him to ask to be taken off.

“My stomach was hurting and I wasn’t feeling too well. It was better to ask to be taken off and let someone else come on to freshen things up,” Pedri explained after the match.

His comments will provide some reassurance to Barcelona supporters, although his condition will be worth monitoring as the team prepares for a crucial run of fixtures.

Despite enjoying plenty of possession against Galatasaray, Barcelona struggled to translate their dominance into clear-cut opportunities during the first half.

Pedri believes the team’s decision-making in the final third contributed to those difficulties, with the players attempting risky passes instead of patiently moving the ball and allowing their attackers to find space.

“I think in the first half we were often too hasty with the final pass. We had the ball and saw plenty of space, but we were taking risks with the final pass,” he said.

The midfielder also stressed the importance of involving Barcelona’s attacking players in better positions, highlighting the quality of Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, Dani Olmo and Gordon.

Pedri’s assessment reflected Barcelona’s improved performance after the interval, when Flick’s side became more effective in possession and punished their opponents with a series of goals.

Galatasaray’s opening goal had made the contest difficult for Barcelona, particularly in front of their home supporters, but the visitors responded impressively to turn the game around.

Pedri was pleased with the team’s reaction, describing Barcelona’s second-half display as spectacular.

Barcelona’s attacking performances have also attracted attention following their strong goalscoring start to the season.

According to the report, Flick’s side had scored 43 goals in their first 10 competitive matches, underlining the threat they pose across competitions.

Pedri dismissed suggestions that Barcelona were struggling in front of goal, insisting that the squad possesses enough quality to continue finding the net.

“We’re very confident. There was talk about us lacking a goal-scoring touch, but we’re proving that this squad has it. It’s only the start of the season; let’s keep going,” he explained.

The midfielder also highlighted Barcelona’s squad depth, pointing out that the club has several quality players capable of making an impact when introduced from the bench.

That depth could prove particularly important as Barcelona prepare for a demanding schedule involving domestic and European commitments.

With several attacking options available to Flick, Barcelona will hope to maintain their goalscoring form while improving their decision-making in the final third.

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