GERARD PIQUE took a petty swipe at “one of the worst Real Madrid displays I’ve come across” after Barcelona’s 2-0 El Clasico defeat.
The Catalans squandered the chance to move five points clear of their fierce rivals following second-half strikes from Vinicius Junior and Mariano.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique slammed Real Madrid’s first-half performance during El ClasicoCredit: EPA
Spain team-mate Sergio Ramos hit back to continue the two’s war of wordsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Madrid’s first Clasico league win since April 2016 meant Real instead moved ahead of Barca by a single point with 12 games each to go.
Speaking after the game, Pique told reporters: “Madrid in the first half was the worst Madrid I’ve faced at the Bernabeu.
“We missed a chance to hurt them. We have to play better than in the second half, though. We lost balls and they grew in confidence.
“The feeling they [Madrid] transmitted was the worst, and I don’t say it as a criticism.
“We all have problems in our clubs. But I have the feeling that it’s an important missed opportunity.
“I say we lost the opportunity to hit the table. We had full control of the game. In the second half, we let them grow based on our losses and they scored a goal, and in the end the second one.
“If we had taken advantage of several chances, we would have left with an advantage on the scoreboard.”
Everyone’s opinion is respectable. I sign up to win all Clasicos by making a first half as bad as he says.
Sergio Ramos fires back at Gerard Pique’s ‘worst Madrid claim’
However, the comments didn’t go down to well with Spain team-mate and nemesis Sergio Ramos, with the two regularly feuding on everything from referee decisions to Catalan independence in recent years.
On being told Pique’s latest jab, the Madrid captain claimed he would gladly play the same way in every El Clasico if it meant coming out on top.
He told reporters, via Spanish publication AS: “Everyone’s opinion is respectable.
“I sign up to win all Clasicos by making a first half as bad as he says.
“The approach was different. In the first half, we left the ball and in the second we decided to go.
“They were not so fresh and we started to generate chances.”
It was Vinicius Junior’s deflected strike off Pique that set Madrid on their way to a vital three points before Mariano’s late settler.
The Brazilian has been given an extended run in the side after Eden Hazard fractured his ankle in the surprise 1-0 defeat by Levante last month.
It was just the response Zinedine Zidane’s men needed from losing their Champions League first leg against Manchester City at home.
Zinedine Zidane is pleased to see Real Madrid bounce back with 2-0 defeat of Barcelona
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
