Gerard Pique has rejected the notion that Spain must change their style of play, hitting out at the media and fans for being ‘bipolar’.
La Roja have drawn consecutive 2014 World Cup qualifiers to France and Finland on home soil, to go into Tuesday’s return match in Paris two points behind Group I leaders France.
“Earlier on the radio, I was asked why we are not more direct, play more crosses into the box, look to shoot more,” Pique commented to El Pais in an interview published today.
“If we win for six or seven years in a way that dazzles, controls the game, with 70 per cent possession, creating chances…are we going to change now after drawing a game?
“The world wants to play as Spain does and us to change style? That’s incredible.
“Any doubts after Finland? Zero. We played this game a thousand times. Do you remember Switzerland in South Africa? Sure we lost that day, but we went on to win it.
“Between us there is no doubt, but I have also been asked if this is a change in cycle and they say: ‘look, he’s already going through this in Barcelona’.
“Spanish culture says you are in crisis if you lose a game after doing what no-one else has done – the European Championship, World Cup and European Championship successes.
“And whilst that is not in the present, we cannot doubt our style.
“This country is bipolar. The Press and the fans are bipolar. It is very easy to speak well when we win and when we lose then there must be some other explanation. That we are not doing well.”
