Real Madrid boss reacts to Gerard Pique’s controversial claim

Gerard Pique has never really been a popular figure among Real Madrid fans and it is unlikely he ever will be. He came through the youth ranks at La Masia and spent several years playing for FC Barcelona, becoming a key part of the club’s most successful era. But beyond that, the Spaniard is someone who seems to enjoy the rivalry between the two El Clasico teams.

Pique retired almost out of the blue last year, in the middle of the season. It is rare for a player of his calibre to do that.

He has never stayed out of the spotlight even after retirement though. And some of his recent comments did not go down too well with Real Madrid supporters.

Pique appears to believe that Real Madrid’s 14th Champions League title, which they won in the 2021/22 season, will not be remembered. As reported by RAC1, the Barcelona legend said:

"“They have won 13 or 14 Champions Leagues, but when we win, it is remembered forever. The last Champions they won was a miracle, because they were not superior in any qualifier or in the final, and it will never be remembered.”"

Real Madrid boss reacts to Pique’s controversial claim

Of course, Carlo Ancelotti was the manager of the club when they won the Champions League in the 2021/22 season. And unsurprisingly, he did not seem impressed with Pique’s comments about that triumph.

As reported by Cope, the Real Madrid manager responded by saying:

"“Piqué lives in his world, which is not that of Real Madrid. I can assure you that there is not a single Real Madrid fan who can forget the fourteenth. It will be a Champions League that will be remembered for life.”"

Yes, over both legs, Real Madrid were probably not the better team in any knockout round leading up to that Champions League final. But they did manage to pull a rabbit out of the hat time after time.

Perhaps it was a miracle that Rodrygo scored a brace to save the semi-final tie against Manchester City when all hope had seemed lost. Maybe it was a miracle that Luka Modric pulled off one of the best assists in football history against Chelsea when the Blues were about to do a Remontada at Santiago Bernabeu.

Pique is right in the sense that it was a miracle. And people never forget miracles. Neither will Real Madrid fans forget the fourteenth.