Football
Adriana Garcia 9y

Luis Enrique blasts booing of 'splendid' Gerard Pique by Spain supporters

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has backed defender Gerard Pique after he was jeered by Spain fans in recent matches.

Pique, 28, has been barracked at international matches following comments he made on Catalan independence and jibes at Real Madrid.

He was again was jeered by a number of fans as Spain beat Slovakia 2-0 in Oviedo on Saturday, and said on Thursday that he "always wanted Real Madrid to lose."

Asked about Pique's comments, Luis Enrique told a news conference on Friday: "Pique is splendid, very sincere and very original. What he said was funny."

The player said the jibes he directed at Real Madrid while celebrating Barcelona's treble-winning campaign -- and also following the team's European Super Cup last month -- were the reason he is targeted, more than his support for Catalan independence.

Luis Enrique said he believed rivalries between big teams were a "necessary" part of football and added: "I don't know why he is booed, and that is a question to ask the people that do so.

"But I believe it's pathetic to whistle a player of the national team because it affects his teammates.

"It's comical that, in this country, things like this happen."

He said the fact that Pique was jeered showed "hypocrisy and other values that surface in our society, especially depending on the results."

And he added: "I remember a few years back when [Real Madrid midfielder] Guti was barracked for saying that he wished that Barca would always lose."

His Real Madrid counterpart Rafa Benitez, asked about Pique's most recent remarks, told his news conference: "I have a firm idea that football and sport has to unite and not the opposite.

"As coach of Real Madrid, I want Real to win every game and hence, to win many titles. If we win, I don't care what others do."

Earlier this week, Pique said he would not step down from the Spain team, telling a news conference: "It's the last thing I would do. As long as the coach [Vicente del Bosque] has confidence in me and calls me up, I will be there."

Asked if he had regrets, Pique said: "Absolutely not. I will do it again and a million times more. It's who I am, I will not change. I'm very passionate.

"I always want Real Madrid to lose -- that is the rivalry. It has always been like that. I love this club more than anything and when things go well for Barca, things go badly for Real and vice versa.

"I know what I said was not elegant but it was never intended to offend anyone. However, my relationship with Real Madrid players in the Spain team is wonderful."

However, Madrid captain Sergio Ramos earlier this week reprimanded Pique and said his recent actions had not helped the Spain cause.

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