Barcelona defender Gerard Pique believes the confidence his club have developed during their era of success this century was a key factor in their latest title triumph.
The Catalan club claimed their sixth La Liga trophy in the space of eight seasons by beating 3-0 at Granada on Saturday, ensuring they finished one point clear of eternal rivals Real Madrid.
Although the victory was straightforward enough, Barca had left themselves with no margin for error after enduring a shocking run of form at the start of April, losing three consecutive league games to reopen a title race which had previously looked decidedly one-sided.
But Pique feels the way his team responded to their spring collapse, which also saw them exit the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid, shows how far the club have progressed ever since Johan Cruyff arrived at the Nou Camp as manager in 1988.
At that point, Barca had failed to win the league for nearly 15 years, and had never been crowned European champions. But the Dutch legend succeeded in taking the ‘Dream Team’ of Romario, Hristo Stoichkov and Ronald Koeman to four consecutive La Liga titles as well as a maiden European Cup triumph in 1992.
And lifelong Barca fan Pique, who joined the club during his childhood, believes the self-belief generated by Cruyff, and later continued by Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola, was a fundamental factor in this season’s regeneration.
“I’ve got the feeling that 25 years ago we wouldn’t have won this title,” he said. “We have changed the pessimism that previously surrounded the club and now we have are a winning team. We had a blip and we had to win this league twice, but we have learned how to show our faces in adversity.”
Pique is one of five members of the squad who have experienced all six titles since 2008, alongside Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Dani Alves and Sergio Busquets. That quintet will now turn their attentions to seeking only the sixth league and cup double in the club’s history, with Sunday night’s Copa del Rey final against Sevilla providing an opportunity for more silverware to finish the season.
But first, they are taking time to savour their latest La Liga triumph and last night the players were saluted by thousands of fans as they staged an open-top bus tour around the city.
Pique saw no problem in celebrating the league title when they still have another final to play, promising: “There’s a long time between this Sunday and next Sunday. I’m very happy about winning the league. Winning six out of eight is something we’ve never done before, and we should enjoy the moment.”
And despite setting very high standards with last season’s treble, Pique rejected the notion that his team need to win next week’s Copa del Rey final before their season can be judged a success.
“We don’t need anything,” he said. “This generation of players has already won everything. If we win the cup as well, even better. Sevilla will be a difficult opponent, but I believe the consistency we have shown is magnificent.”
