Pique Needs Good Game with Spain after Barca Snub
For Gerard Pique, Spain's apparently routine European championship qualifier against Belarus on Saturday has added importance.
Once an unquestionable part of both Barcelona and Spain's title-winning teams, the defender has apparently fallen out of favor with club coach Luis Enrique.
Spain manager Vicente del Bosque, however, has called him up for the Euro 2016 qualifier to be played in the southern city of Huelva and next week's friendly against world champion Germany.
After not playing for Barcelona for three consecutive games, Pique will be under pressure to show that he deserves to keep his starting job with Spain and get another chance to reclaim his spot in Luis Enrique's team.
"I don't think (Pique) is guilty of everything," Del Bosque told Onda Cero radio. "We can't mix the club and the national team, and his moment will come if he deserves it."
Del Bosque said earlier that Pique "forms part of the project" he faces to retool and rejuvenate Spain after its disappointing World Cup and the retirement of three pillars of the team in Xavi Hernandez, David Villa and Xabi Alonso.
"Pique has demonstrated that he wants to come with the selection," Del Bosque said. "As for him not playing ... he played against (Real) Madrid. He is active, he is training. We hold Pique in high regard and count on him."
A media personality ever since he began dating and starting a family with pop star Shakira, Pique acknowledged last summer that his level of performance had slipped over recent seasons.
"I was once the best center back and I want to be so again," Pique said in July. "It's a challenge and I know Luis Enrique is going to help me. His arrival is going to be positive. I feel very comfortable with him."
The opposite has proven true through the first three months under his new coach.
Luis Enrique has denied that he has lost confidence in Pique. He added he was not punishing the defender for apparently using his smart phone in the dugout recently.
"(Pique) is doing everything a football player should," Luis Enrique said.
But Luis Enrique, a former Barcelona player, seemed to be making a particular point when he ordered Pique to start warming up on the sideline during Barcelona's win at Almeria last round just moments before he made his third and final substitution.
Also, the numbers don't lie.
Ever since Pique's clumsy handball that led to Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a penalty to spark Madrid's 3-1 comeback win last month, Pique has yet to play again except for 45 minutes in the minor Catalan Super Cup.
Overall this season, Pique has started seven of Barcelona's 15 matches in the Spanish league and the Champions League, and come on as substitute in one other.
The 27-year-old Pique has 63 caps for Spain and helped it win the 2010 World Cup and defend its European title in 2012.
So despite his dip in form that was evident during Spain's flop in Brazil, Pique remains an irreplaceable piece of Spain's and Barcelona's similar ball-possession style because of his excellent passing skills and his height, a prized commodity on both teams.
"Pique is fundamental, vital and key for Barca," said Xavi. "You will have to ask Luis Enrique why he isn't playing."
Pique will likely be paired with Sergio Ramos against Belarus as the two veterans anchor a squad missing striker Diego Costa, the injured Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas, and with four newcomers who can all make their international debuts.
Spain is in second place in Group C, three points behind leader Slovakia.
Source: Associated Press
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