Gerard Pique’s Resurgence Under Luis Enrique Cements Barcelona Legend Status

If you had to pick just one player who has benefited from Luis Enrique’s stewardship at FC Barcelona, it would be Sergi Roberto.

He has come the furthest since the Asturian coach arrived, moving from an also-ran to an essential first-team player.

But while not as spectacular, because he already had first-team status and several trophies in the bank, Gerard Pique’s rise to the heights he hits on such a regular basis these days is just as impressive.

It’s easy to say that Pique has been a regular in Barcelona’s first-team since 2008, in his ninth full season at the Camp Nou.

In that time he has won six La Liga titles, four Copa del Reys and three Champions Leagues, among other various pieces of silverware for club and country.

But in all that time he has not played as well as in the last two years.

And what makes it all the more remarkable was the depths he had fallen to, particularly under Tata Martino and in the first few months of Luis Enrique’s tenure at Barcelona.

His performances were error-strewn, and he looked insecure and shaky. Part of that was down to groin problems, but whatever the reason, he was a far cry from the confident, imperious player he is at his best.

Luis Enrique started him in only seven of Barcelona’s first 14 fixtures in 2014-15, which is testament more to Pique’s dodgy displays rather than the coach’s penchant for rotation.

Bad performances on the field were tallied with bad behaviour off it. Pique was more of a class clown than a captain or a future Barcelona president.

He caused a stink, quite literally, on the pre-season tour. Pique let off two stink bombs, one on the aeroplane as Barcelona were heading to Helsinki and another in the mixed zone after Barcelona’s friendly against HJK Helsinki on August 9, 2014.

A harmless joke, sure, but one that impressed nobody, least of all the strict Luis Enrique, per Sport’s Javier Miguel.

He also misbehaved during the Catalan Super Cup final, playing on his phone and then joking around before the penalty shootout, as explained on Bleacher Report.

Pique also lashed out at police after an incident in Barcelona’s beach area after a casino visit. Per La Vanguardia (h/t Daily Mail), he told officers:

You envy me because I’m famous. You are fining me because you’re on commission, because you have no money and you need to make commission.

I’m going to speak with your bosses and get you reprimanded. You think you are masters of the world because you wear that uniform and fine people.

…

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com