Pique admits Roma loss played its part in "Anfield nightmare"

Gerard Pique has spoken at length to El Pais and touched on the "nightmare" at Anfield. The centre-back says the stunning defeat Barcelona suffered to Liverpool will linger for a long time. 

"When something like that happens it's because nearly everything went wrong," he said, speaking for the first time about the 4-0 loss in England. 

"I think mentally some of us were affected by what happened in Rome because it happened so recently. After the first goal, which came so quickly, unconsciously the image of Rome appears.

"Then with the two quick goals later it's all too similar to what happened a year ago. I am sure it was a mental block, but we also didn't play well. We lacked everything. Sometimes it happens.

"It was a tough day. It's been hard to pick ourselves up. The days pass but you don't forget the defeat. It's a fall which is going to last for some time.

"But we can't torture ourselves. Sometimes you have to bite the dust in sport. It was a nightmare and we have to deal with it because it could happen again."