Barcelona tell Pedri: "We are going to make you like Coutinho"

Pedri González is the sensation of Barcelona. In fact, he's the sensation of Europe, too, after his performance against Juventus. 

The attacking midfielder from Tenerife took full advantage of his first start in the Champions League by giving a recital against the Italian champions. 

One of the aspects most commented on after the game was his ability to get the better of much stronger opponents -- he was more than able to 'dance' with Juan Cuadrado. 

The reality is that both Barça and Pedri know he still needs to take a step forward physically. But there's no rush. Don't forget he's still just 17 and his body is still growing, so the plan must reflect said circumstances. Anything else could be counter-productive. 

The former Las Palmas player has got to work to put on muscle mass. He's working on a number of routines with the club's fitness coaches, who have sent a clear message: "We're going to make you like Coutinho," they say. 

Coutinho had a very similar physical profile to Pedri but since his loan at Bayern Munich his body has 'transformed'. In fact, it's been one of the most commented subjects at the club in recent months. 

In a recent interview with SPORT, Pedri responded to comments from a fitness coach at Getafe who suggested that, in the future, players who don't get into a shape similar to Adama Traore won't be able to compete among the elite. 

"I prefer to have a yard in my head and to think a second quicker than a rival that has more muscle," said Pedri, although he admitted that doesn't mean he needs to bulk out a little mean. 

At home, Pedri takes care of his diet. He lives with his brother, who is a trained chef, which is a huge help when it comes to planning a balanced diet during the week.