Gerard Pique creating doubts in the Barcelona dressing room
The different faces of Gerard Pique have multiplied with the passing of time. He is present everywhere now. He’s gone from being Puyol’s assistant to being the club’s flag. In a sporting sense he’s still one of the best defenders but he can’t hide his flaws either, like against Bayern and Atletico.
As a captain he takes more criticism. Within the dressing room he’s accused of cosying up to power, above all, Laporta. And for being unsupportive by lowering his salary first and then effectively daring the rest to do so.
After many times denying the desire to be captain he now is one of the armband holders. He speaks sometimes in relation to commercial interests, depending Riqui Puig and Samuel Umtiti against criticism - players represented by the same agent he is.
He also is not close to Ronald Koeman. The player has never publicly defended Koeman and the coach took him off against Benfica. The coach has started to draw a line, suspecting movements behind his back by the defender.
Piqué's ties with President Laporta have been strengthened since he won the elections. In the locker room, where everything is known and even more suspicious, there have been echoes of his influence with the president, even in Lionel Messi’s departure.
Can Pique act appropriately when he wears so many caps at the same time? "When I have doubts, I think about what is best for Barça," Guardiola said. Is that always the case with Piqué?
