Despite being reluctant to apologise for his comments, it doesn’t look like Pedro will be sent home from Spain’s Euro 2016 squad.
Pedro caused a stir over an interview with Movistar in which he said that “it wasn’t worth turning up” if he continued to remain on the bench for Spain’s Euro 2016 campaign.
He addressed the fallout from the interview during Monday’s pre-match press conference, but the 28-year-old wasn’t exactly apologetic about the interview.
“I am not sorry exactly. If you asked me about my future in the national team, I would say the same [again].”
“I have spoken to Vicente, I have spoken to the players and they understand what I was saying, so I do not really understand while this has happened.”
This won't sit well with del Bosque https://t.co/YIqVSPhKVR
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 20, 2016
Pedro explained that his comments were not meant as a criticism for manager Vicente del Bosque, and then hammered home the point that he wasn’t really sorry by offering to apologise to anyone who needed to hear it.
“I am very grateful to be here and be part of this team. I have been here for six years, I am not attacking the manager or other things that have been said. I assume the responsibility of what I have said, if I have to say sorry to someone because I haven’t liked it, I will say it. Now the most important thing is to be calm.”
“I wanted to come out and speak here and I will say it again – if I have annoyed anyone or made anyone disappointed I am sorry, but I don’t think it was such a big deal.”
Prior to Pedro clearing up the confusion, Del Bosque admitted his comments “caught me by surprise”. However, he also revealed that the seemingly unapologetic winger was singing a different tune when he spoke to him personally.
“But it’s not bad that he talks and explains how he feels. I spoke to him and he apologised. He explained that he did not want to create any problems.”
Whatever Pedro said to him behind closed doors must have been very convincing as the manager added that there will be no repercussions over the incident. At the same time, his complaints haven’t changed his mind over the team intends to field against Croatia on Tuesday night.
“I will not punish him. I already know pretty much who I will play against Croatia. Pedro’s comments do not change anything.”
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