I AM A TENSION TO MADRID – PIQUE
Gerard Pique reportedly admitted that he derives pleasure in provoking their Spanish rival, Real Madrid in order to maintain the intense rivalry with them.
The Spain international has regularly made headlines with his comments, a war of words with the former Madrid defender, Alvaro Arbeloa in particular catching the eye.
The center-back feels the animosity between the clubs makes things interesting and lively to fans of both teams, and he even acknowledges it has taken attention away from his performances on the pitch somewhat. He confirmed that it was true that he recently stopped, as he realizes whenever he is getting close to those moments of chaos and football wars on the pitch.
“I admit that I like to provoke and I do provoke, I like there to be a tension purely in a sporting sense, and I’m the tension to them,” he told TV3.
“I suppose that without that, people would not love football. Without the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid, the games would not have that sensation of life or death, the feeling that everything is decided in one game, the do or die style of play.”
The 29-year old made known that most of the match clashes among the players which lead to physical fights don’t actually get off the pitch, once the match ends the brawl is over.
“In the end, though, we understand each other in those Barca-Madrid games with [Jose] Mourinho and [Pep] Guardiola of those days.”
Barcelona crushed Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga on Saturday, thrashing them 4-0, while Madrid’s visit to Real Betis on the same day ended in a victory as well as Zidane’s men went home with 6-1 victory.
The next El Classico showdown between these two long time rivals will take place at Camp Nou on December 12.