‘Messi still hungry’

Gerard Pique believes Lionel Messi is still hungry for more trophies and that a Barcelona defeat hurts as much as ever.

Pique was speaking in a radio interview and it was put to the centre-back that Messi’s success could lead to his competitive instinct being dimmed.

“I see Leo every day and I see a bestial desire to keep winning titles,” Pique countered.

“There was a game we lost at home, very tough, but we were still in a good moment and still League leaders.

“I talked to him and he made me realise that defeat still hurts and you realise you’re hurt and you want more titles.”

Barcelona were beaten over the weekend, defeat to Valencia allowing Atletico Madrid to move three points clear at the top of the table.

“It was a result we didn’t want, not something we expected but it’s happened,” Pique said.

“Sometimes your opponent plays well.

“I don’t want to detract from Valencia, who played a very good game and got the points on merit.

“But I think even at a big club like Barca, doubts can come.

“Not in the locker room though. We have no need for doubts.”

Pique added that he doesn’t expect any issues to arise over the renewal of his contract at Camp Nou.

“All will go well,” he insisted.

“With the change of President it’s unclear but Bartomeu has already been in contact.

“I’m content. I know the club is my life.”

On the subject of contracts, Pique was asked about the Neymar case.

“It’s a very sensitive issue and in the end we are a very special club.

“I believe that if we really have to explain the contract of a player we would have to explain all transfers and all contracts and that’s not good.

“Football is a business and there are many parts to it.

“Transfers are for managers and presidents and we have to trust them. We shouldn’t feel like we have to explain a signing point by point as the negotiations went on.

“No one must feel the obligation to do that.”

Tags Gerard Pique Lionel Messi Neymar
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