Madrid - New Barcelona star Pedro Rodriguez said on Tuesday that he hoped coach Josep Guardiola would extend his contract "as soon as possible.""If Guardiola is not here next season, that will be a blow for all of us," he said, "not just for me."
"He has taught me a lot," Pedro said, "above all about how to position myself on the pitch. He is giving me a lot of confidence, many opportunities, and I hope to take advantage of them through hard work."
Pedro, 22, is the revelation of the Spanish season. He has scored nine goals in all competitions, has caught the eye playing down both flanks - and is being mentioned as a possible member of the Spanish World Cup squad.
The little winger called Guardiola "a brilliant coach who should continue here for many years."
Guardiola's contract expires in June 2010 and he seems reluctant to extend it before knowing who the successor to club president Joan Laporta will be.
Pedro admitted that "we have a very difficult calendar in front of us," with crucial matches against Inter Milan and Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League and against Real Madrid in La Liga.
