“All this hard work will be meaningless if we don't end up winning trophies" said the FC Barcelona centre back on Wednesday.
Gerard Piqué attended Wednesday’s presentation of 50,000 euros raised by the Relats Solidaris campaign, a book being sold for charity and to which he has lent his image. He used the occasion to chat to the press about the busy April ahead, his and his colleagues’ form and fitness, and his belief in the team’s unique style. Here is a pick of the best comments made by the Catalan centre back:
On a busy April schedule
“The most important time is now. We have a series of tough matches including the Champions Leaguequarter final. We know it’ll be very hard and we’re going to need to perform at our best if we want to win titles.”
“We have improved as a team as the season has progressed and we’re feeling very confident right now. We have learned from last season and have tried to improve things.”
“Every month is decisive. We may not be able to win titles, but we can lose them. We have to go game by game, knowing that we can’t afford to drop points in the league and that the Champions League quarter finals are of vital importance to the club. If we don’t win any trophies, all this hard work will have been for nothing.”
On his own form
“I’m feeling good. Very confident. I’m fit, but also feeling fast. I feel like I am helping the team, and we’re getting good results. It all helps. We have two months of the season left. Without titles, all this will be meaningless. We have to carry on as we are.”
“When you go out onto the pitch, sometimes you feel really good, like you can do anything, and that boosts your confidence. I’m feeling very confident right now and that makes me feel good.”
On individual players
“I’m optimistic about Messi. I spoke with him and I think he’ll be able to play at Balaídos. But it depends on how he feels this week. It’s the team doctors who have to decide. But from what I can gather, he’ll be okay.”
“I am not the person to talk about Alves and his contract. I don’t decide these things. But over the last few weeks, as a team-mate, he has shown that he’s one of the best, if not the best, right backs in the history of the club. And he’s still performing very well. I’d like him to stay for years.”
“Xavi is what our way of playing is all about, the Masia culture. He’ll be a major loss.”
On set pieces
“I always practice free kicks in training. We have some specialists in the team. But would I ever take one for Barça? It would depend on my confidence and the specialists would all need to be off the field.”
“Our strategy hasn’t changed much. Juan Carlos Unzué is getting us to work a lot on set plays, but much of the time it’s just a matter of whether the ball goes in or not. Good results in defence have a lot to do with attitude.”
On the Barça style
“I think the team has stuck to its usual philosophy, but now we also have a lot of variants. With the three great strikers we have, it’s not so much about changing our way of playing. But it is about getting more balls up to them so that they can create chances.”
“We’re still dominating matches. It’s the same style. The same philosophy. Holding our positions and the ball and creating chances from there. Barça always have to govern the pace of matches.”
On the Cup Final
“It’ll be a great final at the Camp Nou. We wanted to go to the Bernabéu because it’s a neutral ground with a big capacity. If it was the other way round, I’d be delighted to give up our stadium to other teams.”
