Barcelona is going through difficult times. The club was left without Lionel Messi due to financial problems. The first man of the club, Joan Laporta, addressed the public again last night, in order to summarize the transfer window and the previous month at the Camp Nou.Gerard Pique also spoke for the Spanish media. He talked about former president Josep Bartomeu, who left a debt of 1.5 billion USD to his successor. He defended Samuel Umtiti, who is under attack from the public for refusing to leave the club and the Spaniard has spoken on numerous other topics.Van Gaal mimics the sound of the F1 engine mocking Frenkie De Jong for loving itGiven that he is the most responsible for the club’s unenviable situation – is Bartomeu the worst president Pique has had at Camp Nou?”I can’t say if he is the worst,” Pique told comedy show ‘La Sotana’. “From what I have lived, he must be [up] there. We are all guilty, but it is true that the club have not gone where all the Catalans want. Now I am hopeful and excited. The next five or ten years will be very good for Barcelona.”How did Pique cope with Messi’s departure?”Laporta called us to inform us. Although we agreed to salary reduction, the captains came to the rescue to get the club’s cash register in better shape. The club waited to see what would happen with Leo before any official statement, because there was an agreement.”Sat, 11/9, 22.00: (2.75) SEVILLA (3.35) BARCELONA (2.55)Along with Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, as one of the longest-serving players in Barcelona, Pique agreed to a salary reduction so that the club could create space for new signings and embark on the path of financial stability.”I have given up part of the salary,” noted Pique. “My contract was ending this year but if I played X number of games it would be renewed under the same conditions as this year. Now the fixed [salary] and the bonuses have changed.”Samuel Umtiti has been on the sidelines for a long time, but he wanted to stay this summer at all costs, even though the club tried to sell him in every way and get rid of his contract. Pique defended his teammate, and shifted the blame towards former club leaders.”[Umtiti] is fulfilling the contract with all obligations,” said Pique. “People have to be empathetic. The attitude is impeccable. He has never missed a training session. Another thing is who signed the contract, a president who was voted in by the members.”Why shall we whistle at him? Most people have been in a company for 30 years and do nothing. If I were at another club, for example [Manchester] United, I would be doing the same as Umtiti. Every situation is different. I only ask people to be empathetic.”##EDITORS_CHOICE##The media in Spain came reported that Pique got injured while surfing. He points out that everything is fine.”I don’t have a problem with the injury. They photographed us and that’s it. I went surfing because I’m fine. We told the photographer not to do that, but that was his five minutes of fame.”He also remembered working with Pep Guardiola. He pointed out that the relationship between them changed when Pique’s romance with the popular Colombian singer Shakira (now the wife of the Barcelona defender) began.”At one point there was so much tension with [Guardiola], and with the dressing room in general,” declared Pique. “The [Jose] Mourinho issue wore us out a lot. Pep wants absolute control of everything that happens.”I start dating Shakira and the relationship with him changes. Now the relationship with [Guardiola] is perfect. I had a lot of pressure and if there was one moment I was thinking of leaving, it was in 2011/12.”Ex Chelsea’s boss tactical analysis of Messi, Eto’o and Ronaldinho surfaced on social mediaHe also points out that he does not like to appear in the media.”I don’t mind, but in the end I always wonder why do people give interviews. When you are young and want to become famous – OK, you send a certain message. But I don’t need that anymore.”At the beginning of his career, he had his share of nightlife and parties.”If people only knew five percent of my first year at Barca, all kinds of stuff would be said.”At the end of the interview, he pointed out that he would leave the club only when he feels that he could no longer help Barcelona. Pique also claims that Barça will win a trophy this season.
