Football Special Report: Player Profile – Gerard Pique (Part 1)
There have not been many central defenders who have possessed “skill” on the ball, but if there were a few who were to be named in this category, the German legend Franz Beckenbauer is definitely the first player that would come to anyone’s mind. His amazing ability to keep the ball at his feet for making through balls and scoring goals is definitely different from any other centre back. These are the reasons; he was not only known to be a centre back but also a play maker.
However, if there was a player in recent times that could be compared to the Bayern Munich legend, he would definitely be the Barcelona centre back Gerard Pique. He is a sophisticated stopper and even he has the ability to majestically move forward to help his team in scoring goals. In fact, during his run in 2009-2010, he was named as “Piquebauer” and he has been compared to the German legend so much that he himself has started to underline himself for such a nickname.
During his time in the English club, Manchester United, Gerard Pique worked under the English defender Rio Ferdinand and before the summer of 2008, he became a leading man. Pique then joined Barcelona during the summer of 2008 and the “full-blown leading man” became a part of Barcelona’s fabulous run during that season. They were able to achieve a Triplet in 2009, as he became a partner to Carlos Puyol at the centre back position. It wasn’t Barcelona that he took over, it was also the Spanish team that took him as a permanent first team player and made him partners with the Spanish defender, Puyol, again. Both of them combined well at the back; Pique providing the team with the “height” and “pace” advantage, while Puyol being able to help with his experience and technique. As the season progressed, both the teams started to get even better and they started to combine really well and built a wonderful chemistry.
Another Primera Division title was easily secured and it was all thanks to the Blaugrana defensive wall and they only managed to concede 24 goals in the entire league and this was the lowest ever, for any major club in Europe.
Even though it was the Catalan giants who saw the “exit gates” when it came down to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in the Champions league Semi finals, Gerard Pique still managed to score a wonderful goal to add to his tally. The goal was simply master-class and many strikers in the world wouldn’t even be “skilled” enough to score such a goal. He managed to perform a pirouette around Inter Milan’s goalkeeper, Julio Cesar while he shot the ball home and scored a goal.
The Spanish player who was born in the heart of Catalunya was a part of the FIFA World Cup 2010 and also one of the reasons why Spain suffered a loss against Switzerland in the first match of the tournament. The Spaniard was able to play each and every minute of the FIFA World Cup 2010, as he was assisted by his “stable mate” Carlos Puyol throughout the tournament. After the first match, both of Barcelona’s centre backs combined well with the team and helped them march on forward towards their goal, which was the FIFA World Cup. He managed to perform extremely well against all the opponents except Switzerland, as he was the one who got a shoe to his face and then the striker managed to put one past Iker Casillas. Besides the first game, he was a defensive “wall” on his own as the Spanish team went on to face the Portuguese, Germans and the Dutch.
During the match against Portugal, Gerard Pique managed to avoid the Portuguese captain and sensation, Cristiano Ronaldo, time and time again. He also managed to avoid all of Germany’s attackers as they were the “biggest” threat in the tournament. The Germans managed to totally destroy the teams that came against them, as they managed to win 4-0 against Australia and Argentina and they shattered England’s dream as well as they won the match 4-1.
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