Defender
Pique, who will not play in the game due to a suspension, said that at FC Barcelona
you aren't just obliged to win, but to always play well. "You're at a club
where you're obliged to always win. You have to find motivation and desire for
every game.
It doesn't matter if you're going to a team
about to be relegated or to Arsenal. Here there is no difference," he said
about Luis Enrique's side's 37 game unbeaten run.
Ahead of the game at Camp Nou against Arsenal, defender Gerard Pique
said: "We have more variables now. We continue to want to control the
ball, to have possession and we always want to have more chances on goal, but
we have also found more comfort in defending and counter-attacking.
The first goal at Arsenal is a clear example of that. Before, we
suffered when we were defending. We have three forwards who are really quick
and take advantage on the counter," he explained.
On the other hand, FC Barcelona have
been on an enviable run of form and results since last season. Ever since their
impressive MSN strike
force partnered up for Luis Enrique, they have won just about every title there
is to win, with the exception of the Spanish Super Cup which they lost to
Athletic Bilbao.
This
abundance of silverware is a source of pride for both fans and the club's
board, but it comes at a cost.
The problem is the expenditure that comes with
this level of sporting success because most of their players' bonuses were not
budgeted for. In fact, the club had only budgeted for winning Liga BBVA, around
25 million euros, half the amount the players would receive for winning the
treble.
Everything
else is an additional cost, the 30 million still owed from winning last year's
treble and the Club World Cup, plus the remaining 25 million should the team go
onto win the treble again this season.
This financial setback comes at a tough time with the club desperately
looking for ways to bring in additional revenue to reduce its spiralling debt.
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