The keys to champion Gerard Pique's explosion into a leader at Barcelona
With an IQ of 170, acccording to his father in an interview with La Vanguardia, Gerard Pique is in a sweet moment in his sporting career, where he is near to winning as many titles as he has years on this earth.
At 28, Pique, in Yokohama, won his 27th title and overtook Paolo Maldini, who left football with 26, all with Milan. Pique now is the centre-back with the most trophies in the history of football and if things keep going as they are, he has a chacne of beating Gary Neville (31), Vitor Baia (35) or Ryan Giggs (36) as the players who have won the most ever.
Pique, who arrived at Barcelona in 2004, rejecting the chance to be presented as a summer signing so as not to create too much expectations, has been winning since time megan, and has become Barcelona's defensive reference point after the departure of Carles Puyol. Pique has inherited his throne.
Early parts of seasons are not Pique's best moments, when there is little at stake, and not a lot of motivation after a month without training, full of travel, not thinking of football and dedicating himself to his other passions.
Competition vs Training
Pique is not passionate about training. There are parts of the season in which he disconnects. Puyol was on his back when this happened. Both had (and maintain) a great connection and complemented each other, because the virtues one has were the defects of the other. It was no surprise to hear Puyol, who's best characteristic was to be able to live through football "whole", to reprimand Pique during training or even in a game. "Stop thinking about what you are going to do tonight, and play!" he yelled, during a game at the Camp Nou when he saw Pique playing aimlessly.
Some phases of a long season are hard for Pique, but when he has a carrot dangled in front of him he becomes an ultra-competitive animal. He's capable of taking double sessions when needed, to arrive in good shape to face Real Madrid, or when there are titles in play. Pique enjoys, above all, winning - more than playing.
Perhaps this is part of why he likes searching for controversy against Real Madrid. Pique has taken a Guardiola or Laporta role, against Los Blancos. Madrid always need someone to blame and they are used to looking at Pique. Although his people have told him to be careful before looking to cause a stir, Pique is happy at the centre of controversy because this makes tension, it makes him concentrate, and allows him to go through the less interesting stages of the season with sufficient motivation to keep performing at a good level.
A leader on the pitch
Mascherano has improved, away from Puyol's shadow, and Pique is more mature than ever, taking a step forward to become the best centre-back in the world. He is a key part of Luis Enrique's team, like Busquets, Iniesta and Messi, he represents an understanding of the play, the spine of the team, the start of moves. His performances this season are becoming spectacular. More than ever, he is combining security, seriousness and leadership.
He brings the ball out well and has been impeccable in the air, becoming the biggest recoverer of balls for the team - an average of 10 per game. Mascherano is on 9, Busquets 7.1, Rakitic 5.1. He's shown the intelligence to which is father refers, to become a reference point not just at Barcelona, but also in current football. Pique is the new leader.
