Puyol backs Pique against criticism

CAIRO – 27 February 2018: Former Barcelona captian Carles Puyol believes that Gerard Pique’s celebrations after scoring in the Catalan Derby against Espanyol on February 4 were a reaction to the insults from Espanyol fans.

“People scrutinise everything he says, but nothing happens with what others say to him. He and his family have been insulted, and I think his reaction was still subdued,” Puyol told press at the Laureus Awards in Monaco.

Pique saved his team from losing to Espanyol in the derby, as he scored the equalizer ten minutes from the final whistle and celebrated with a silence sign towards Esapnyol fans.

Puyol shared Barcelona’s dressing room with Pique between 2009 and 2014 until Puyol’s retirement.

Puyol praised Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde’s work with the team this season, saying, “He is having an extraordinary season; there is a very good group and a coach that has adapted very well.”

Valverde led Barcelona to top the league table this season with seven points clear, and he led them to the Spanish Cup final, as well as the Champions League round of 16.