Gerard Piqué: ‘Playing 100 matches in the Champions League at one Club means I’ve done well’

When Ernesto Valverde’s side play against Inter this week in the Champions League, Gerard Piqué will have completed 100 games in the European competition for Barça. That is why UEFA have prepared an interview in which the defender reviews his journey in the competition. Piqué points out that achieving this goal is "nostalgic and, of course, makes me happy because it means I’ve had a great career.”

Throughout the conversation, Piqué recalls his relationship with Puyol and the tradition of cutting the goal net after the final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. "It's one of the places where I have experienced the best and the worst moments in the Champions League," he said, in reference to the victory against Manchester United in 2009 and defeat to Roma in the 2017/18 quarter-finals.

Piqué also speaks of the historic relationship that Barça have with the Champions League, in which he’s played a leading role, winning the competition in 2009, 2011 and 2015. Not to forget that he has a fourth winners medal, with Manchester United (2008).

Sir Alex Ferguson gave him his debut in the Champions League, and the former United coach was effusive in his praise of the Blaugranes when losing at Wembley in 2011. "When someone like him praises us like that, it means that we have achieved great things with Barça," the centre-back suggested.

The Champions League has helped him to grow "on an individual level" and that has allowed him to experience "very emotional and special" situations, such as the moment when Abidal lifted the cup at Wembley in 2011. Regarding this season’s edition, Piqué said that "we know it’s very difficult, but we have the necessary squad to achieve it.”