Gerard Pique claims Real Madrid are always trophy contenders
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique claims that fellow La Liga giants Real Madrid are always contenders to win trophies domestically and in Europe.
Madrid are so far unbeaten in all competitions this season under new head coach Jose Mourinho. They booked their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, 3 November, after a 2-2 draw away to AC Milan and are sitting at the top of the
La Liga standings.
2010 FIFA World Cup winner Pique was speaking ahead of the El Clasico fixture between the two sides on 28 November at the Camp Nou. With Barcelona sitting just a point behind Madrid in the league, the match could have a huge bearing on the destination of
the championship at the end of the season.
Pique told reporters that: “Madrid are always a candidate to win every tournament, and they have already qualified for the second round of the Champions League.
'We want to win every match before El Clasico'
“However, we want to make sure that we win every match between now and El Clasico. I do not think that we are playing any differently to last season.”
Before the clash with Madrid, Barcelona will play Getafe, Villarreal and Almeria in the Primera Division.
Meanwhile, the central defender reacted to recent speculation that his club and international team-mate Xavi Hernandez is set to announce his retirement from the Spain national team in order to prolong his career with the Catalan giants.
Xavi has been suffering from tendinitis which has affected his ability to play on a regular basis. However, Pique does not believe that the 30-year-old will stop playing for his country.
He said that: “I have not heard anything (about Xavi retiring from Spain). I cannot conceive the Spanish team without Xavi, but I doubt that he is thinking about leaving the team.”
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