Real Madrid News
Gerard Pique makes dark prediction for Real Madrid, Barcelona: “Won’t be able to compete in Europe in five years”
Speaking at the 1st edition of the Business Sport Forum of Expansión and MARCA, former Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique has made a dark prediction about the future of Barça and Real Madrid in European football.
Pique, who retired from football in November last year, and started the Kings League project, discussed in length the system in place in European football and American football and how the lack of equality in economic structure in Europe could lead to problems for Real Madrid and Barcelona.
“It [American sport] is better structured for the franchises. In Europe it’s all in the hands of the players. Barça and Madrid are not going to be able to compete in the long run, this is obvious,” Pique said, as quoted by MARCA.
Further elaborating on the matter, the former defender added: “What happens in Europe? Each league is regulated differently. La Liga has a very strict Fair Play and other leagues have a different system. And then in Europe, you have to compete against those teams.
“As there is no regulation in terms of Fair Play, you are exposed to those clubs paying more through other channels, and we are going to end up with Barça and Madrid not being able to compete.”
“We are on the path where in five years, Barça and Madrid won’t be able to compete in Europe,” Pique remarked.
Pique against the Super League project
Pique also spoke about the European Super League project, spearheaded by Real Madrid, with Barcelona also being involved in the scheme.
Expressing his opposition to the project, the former Barça defender said: “The Super League is a closed league, and that’s where I’m against it. A Super League of 14, 16, or 30, there are a lot of teams that are going to be left out.”
“In the end, the big teams would gain a lot of value, but you would destroy an important part of football, which are perhaps second-tier teams but which have a brutal mass of fans and which in the long term would cease to exist,” he added.
Real Madrid’s performance against Real Betis was shambolic, to say the least as the team faced many of the problems that have haunted them over the past couple of years.
But on a night where most of the attackers struggled to create anything of note, Dean Huijsen emerged as a lone bright spark for Los Blancos.
Huijsen keeps his promise
As reported by MARCA, Huijsen was the standout performer for Real Madrid, marshalling the backline with real authority even as the team struggled around him.
There has been a noticeable shift in the young defender’s mentality this season, with the player showing more competitive nature and looking much fiercer.
This is an attitude Huijsen had always promised, having inherited the iconic number four shift from David Alaba, a number he associates with his idols Sergio Ramos and Fernando Hierro.
“What I do know is that I’ll give everything of myself every day, whether in training or in a game,” he vowed, and at La Cartuja he delivered on that word.
His primary task was neutralising Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernandez, and he did so superbly, drying up the Colombian’s supply and repeatedly anticipating danger.
He also held his own in a niggly battle with Antony, refusing to be ruffled by one of Betis’ most inspired performers.
His composure on the ball, one of the qualities that has elevated him, saw him venture forward, forcing a fine save from the goalkeeper in the 11th minute and later heading against the woodwork.
The Konate partnership grows
Alongside him, Ibrahima Konate did his job, albeit without matching his partner’s brilliance.
The Frenchman was a little less assured, both in and out of possession, reflecting the two speeds of the centre-back pairing.
Huijsen looks settled and increasingly commanding, while Konate is still building the sharpness needed to reach his best in white.
Nonetheless, the partnership is heading in the right direction, and in Huijsen, Real Madrid appear to have unearthed a genuine leader for an area that has long been a weakness.
Each performance is also an argument to Luis de la Fuente, as the defender looks to reclaim the Spain spot he lost before the World Cup.
