Gerard Pique was happy with Barcelona’s 3-1 win against Villarreal in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday but admitted the result ‘could have been better’.
The defender met Lionel Messi’s corner at the back post on the hour mark to secure the Catalans’ first-leg advantage over the Yellow Submarine in the semi-finals of the cup competition and achieve a career-high five goals in a single campaign.
“The result was good but could have been better,” he told reporters after the match.
“El Madrigal is a difficult venue, so we have to be careful. It’s a favourable outcome but [the tie is] far from decided.
“In the League match, we suffered more. [On Wednesday], we were more attentive and it facilitated our win. We still had some problems [on the break], but we were pretty good in this aspect.
“[Messi and I] understand each other well. I knew where he was going to put [the corner] and I met it. I’m very happy [about my goal].
“At Camp Nou, things are tighter. [Away from home] we tend to open up and seize counterattacks.
“Here, it’s all about possession. We dominate more and have less chances of hitting [teams] on the break.
“I feel comfortable [with my form] and very good [about myself]. Obviously I’m happy when things go well.
“[Our character to win from 1-1] shows our desire to win. The team are feeling good. Despite the setback, it’s very good that we recovered quickly. One-all could have harmed us, but it wasn’t the case.”
