Gerard Pique admits to teasing Luis Suarez about price tag but hails Barcelona striker ahead of Champions League final
Saturday 6 June 2015 13:31, UK
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has hailed the club's decision to sign Luis Suarez - but admits he teases the striker about his price tag.
Barcelona take on Juventus in the Champions League final in Berlin on Saturday evening, with both sides looking to complete the treble after securing their respective domestic league and cup titles.
Suarez has scored 24 goals in 42 appearances for Luis Enrique’s side in all competitions this season since joining for £75m from Liverpool last summer - and Pique reckons he's been worth the outlay for his work all over the pitch.
“From the defensive part I think he pressures a lot, and it helps us to put the defensive line up, so It’s easy for us to pressure,” he said, speaking to Sky Sports as part of the build-up to the final.
“And from the offensive part, he’s just a goalscorer. He scores for fun – headers, right foot, left foot, in any kind of position.
“Sometimes we can play him long balls and he knows how to protect the ball.
“I think it was a really good signing, even though it was really expensive – I always tell him he’s really expensive! But this year he’s shown that it’s good enough for us.”
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It has been a hugely successful season for Barcelona, who have been rebuilding after Pep Guardiola’s departure for Bayern Munich in 2013.
Pique has noticed the different style of the two coaches, and says their more direct approach is helping the talented trio of Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar.
“With Pep we controlled the game a lot,” he said. “We had around 70, 80 per cent of the possession, and from that we created chances.
“Right now it’s different. We recover the ball and try to get as quickly as possible to the other goal – with three or four passes, try to create the chance.
“We have three players up front who are really, really quick, and they’re scoring something like 120 goals this year. We have to play with them because they are really good.
Hear more from Gerard Pique in the build-up to the Champions League final, with coverage from 6pm on Sky Sports 1HD & 5HD.
