I will be the first to leave if Barcelona wish – Gerard Pique

Barcelona center-back, Gerard Pique has said that big changes are needed in the team following their “humiliating” 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Pique, who has during his twelve-year stint at the club won 20 major titles added that he would be “the first to leave” if the club wished it.

The 8-2 loss is the heaviest the Catalan giant has ever suffered in Europe. This culminated in a season that saw them losing the La Liga title to Real Madrid.

“We have hit rock bottom This is not the first, nor the second, nor the third time. We are not on the right path.”

“Coaches and players follow one another, but it has been several years since we have been able to be competitive on a European level.

“We all have to think internally and decide what is best for the club, for Barca. Tonight was unacceptable for Barcelona. It’s very hard to take but I hope it will be useful for something, for us to all think about it,” he said.

Big changes needed at Barca – Gerard Pique

The former Manchester United defender further stated that the club needs changes, but explained that the level he is talking about is not of the coach or the players, but structurally.

Barca has been having some internal issues. One was the clash with the club’s Sporting Director, Eric Abidal and captain Lionel Messi

“We must bring in new blood to change this dynamic, and if necessary, I would be the first to leave.”

Barca has a presidential election in the summer of 2021, to seek a successor to incumbent Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Barcelona head coach Quique Setien was already under pressure heading into the quarter-final tie following a disappointing seven months in charge after succeeding Ernesto Valverde.

On his part, he said he won’t be talking about the future of the club and Pique’s comments because he has just been there for just a few months.

“If Gerard says that it’s time for big changes there’s going to be importance to his words. It’s time for us to review and take the decisions which are needed for the future.”

When asked to address his own future at the Nou Camp, he said: “I think that right now it’s too soon to be talking about whether I stay at the club or not. The reality is that it doesn’t depend on me.

“It’s worth all of us working out what’s important and considering a wide range of things which correspond to a defeat of this importance and which is so painful.”