La Liga
Xavi on Pique: ‘I had to make decisions, it was one of the most difficult days of my career’
It was impossible for Xavi not to hint at the end of Gerard Pique’s career and he spoke about the pivotal conversation he had with him, stressing that his decision to sideline the Spaniard was one of the most difficult of his career.
Barcelona’s game against Almeria next Saturday (5/11, 22:00 CET) will be the last in the career of Gerard Pique, who announced on Friday (4/11) that he was hanging up his boots.
Xavi’s press conference was unsurprisingly devoted to the end of the great centre-back’s career, with the Catalan coach citing the pivotal conversation he had with him over the summer.
Xavi claimed that the day he told Pique his intentions was one of the most difficult of his career.
“A few events made me want to let him go. He was on contract and the decision to let him go is a step that shows his greatness. He’s a legend at the club and deserves to be recognized like that.
We talked over the summer and I told him my intentions. It was one of the most difficult days of my coaching career. He was my teammate. It’s happened to all of us when there comes a time when you don’t feel so useful anymore, it’s not easy to deal with.
I certainly had a significant part in his decision, but for the good of the club. I’m looking for the good of the club, but I have to make decisions, it’s not easy, sometimes it’s uncomfortable. I have to do what is best for the club. Sometimes this job is uncomfortable making certain decisions with teammates like Pique or Alves. But I won’t divulge the conversation we had, it was private,
It’s sad to see players, colleagues or friends say goodbye, but that’s life, it happens to all of us. I don’t know if I was fair or not, but I was honest. Athese are the conditions and often we don’t choose the ending. That’s how things happened and that’s how he made his decisions.”
Source: sport 24
I am a sports journalist who has written for various websites and magazines. I currently work as an author at Sportish, a news website that covers sports news. My main focus is writing about soccer, rugby and other sports in the world.
Marcos Llorente scored the only goal in Atletico’s injury-time win over Sevilla, lifting them to third place in La Liga, ahead of Barcelona.
Atletico defeated Sevilla with 1:0 in their procrastination game 4th matchday and overtook Barcelona for 3rd place in the La Liga standings.
The Rojiblancos were superior for most of the game, but in the first half the visitors managed to keep a clean sheet. However, at the start of the second period, Marcos Llorente, one of Diego Simeone’s two half-time substitutes, scored the first goal.
Another change almost made the difference when Caglar Seyunjiu came on in the 66th minute and was sent off four minutes later with a straight red card.
Quique Sanchez Flores’ men failed to threaten against ten opponents and Atlético picked up an important win before half-time.
The program for the 19th matchday
- 01.02. 6:00 p.m Getafe – Rayo Vallecano
- 01.02. 8:15 p.m Real Sociedad – Alaves
- 01.02. 10:30 p.m Valencia – Villarreal
- 01.03. 6:00 p.m Granada – Cadiz
- 01.03. 8:15 p.m Real – Mallorca
- 01.03. 8:15 p.m Celta-Betis
- 01.03. 10:30 p.m Girona – Atletico
- 01.04. 6:00 p.m Osasuna – Almeria
- 01.04. 8:15 p.m Seville – Sporty
- 01.04. 10:30 p.m Las Palmas – Barcelona
Source: sport 24
I am a sports journalist who has written for various websites and magazines. I currently work as an author at Sportish, a news website that covers sports news. My main focus is writing about soccer, rugby and other sports in the world.
Real Madrid have suffered a major blow to their central defense due to injuries and one of the things they have on their list ahead of January is the loan of 20-year-old Brazilian central defender Robert Renan from Zenit.
After the serious injuries to David Alaba and Ender Militao, Real Madrid have entered the transfer market to sign a central defender.
One of the cases that the Merengues are considering, according to AS, is 20-year-old Brazilian central defender Robert Renan, who plays for Zenit St. Petersburg. Madrid initially wants to bring him in with a loan and a purchase option for next summer.
The young footballer is exactly the right person to strengthen the Merengues as he is left-footed and can develop into a very good footballer. This particular formula would also satisfy Zenit, but there is a non-football problem.
Groups linked to the Russian state continue to face sanctions from the European Union (and the US) over the military invasion of Ukraine. Specifically, teams cannot receive an amount over 108,000 euros.
Zenit is owned by Gazprom, one of the most famous oil companies (in the world) controlled by the Russian state.
Source: sport 24
I am a sports journalist who has written for various websites and magazines. I currently work as an author at Sportish, a news website that covers sports news. My main focus is writing about soccer, rugby and other sports in the world.
According to the German newspaper “Die Welt”, Barcelona is threatened with exclusion from the new Champions League due to violations of Financial Fair Play. However, the Catalans are not aware of the specific risk.
A few hours after the legal recognition before the Court of Justice of the European Union of the European Super League, a project that Barcelona and Real Madrid have “operated” from the beginning until today, the Blaugrana are in adventure.
A publication by German newspaper Die Welt reports that the Catalans are at risk of being banned from the new Champions League (for up to three years) due to Financial Fair Play violations. Barcelona announced gigantic profits (a whopping 304 million euros), but according to the report, UEFA will audit the finances as the income must only come from “football activities”.
Barcelona reported on its balance sheet revenue from “Barca Studios”, the project that manages the team’s audiovisual material, such as the team’s official channel (Barca TV).
Sources in Barcelona management told Mundo Deportivo that they were unaware of the scenario in question.
Source: sport 24
I am a sports journalist who has written for various websites and magazines. I currently work as an author at Sportish, a news website that covers sports news. My main focus is writing about soccer, rugby and other sports in the world.
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