Gerard Pique says his ‘professional relationship’ with Alvaro Arbeloa is ‘more normal than it seems’, as he hits out at continued debate over Barcelona’s form.
The centre-back and his Spain colleague on the other side of the Clasico divide notably clashed at the end of September through the online world.
Watching Real Madrid’s controversial win at Elche in the League, Pique joked on Twitter of the ‘comedy’ he was watching on television, to draw a response from Arbeloa that ‘some people have changed the theatre for the cinema’.
However, in considering the issue this week, the Barcelona man has reflected there is no problem between the players.
“We have a professional relationship, we will not be great friends for personal stuff like going to dinner or having a drink together,” considered Pique on RAC 1 this week.
“But I recall that in the last national team training camp, we had a day off and four or five of the players went for a drink together and one of them was Arbeloa, so it’s all more normal than it may seem.”
Pique was asked in his interview once more on the continuing debate over Barcelona’s playing style this season and criticism that it is moving away from recent tradition.
“The ongoing debate does not help us. We are not playing the way that we want, we have a higher level, but we are not playing as badly as people say.
“We should be self-critical and play better. Results are good and give us confidence. The game does not dazzle everyone, as Klopp said.
“We are not deluded, not everyone likes us. Our play will not get worse, it will get better, I am certain.
“My ‘slaves to tiki-taka’ comment? From time to time in exaggerating a style of play that had worked very well, we had become very predictable.
“We realised that possession alone does not see you win games. But we are not playing so differently now. If we can play long passes, then we do.”
The 26-year-old was asked of his ambitions for the future and if, having been a life-long member at Barcelona, he’d want to run for President, to follow on from his grandfather, who was director at the club.
“Why not President? It could be an objective, chairing the best club of the century, but there is much to go. Yes I can say right now that it motivates me more to be a President than a Coach.
“And as for my career, if by 35 I’d had to have go through what Puyol has, I do not see that. He is made of sterner stuff.”
