Pique: I prefer visiting Espanyol than Real Madrid, whose fans are posher

Gerard Pique has played in many Clasicos and derbies in his career and he relishes those rivalry games against Real Madrid and Espanyol.

Xavi's return has seen an upturn in Barcelona's fortunes, with the team's most recent match being a 4-0 victory over Real Madrid, the defining moment of the new era thus far. Pique has now lifted the lid on just what the atmosphere at the Camp Nou is like right now and how he is enjoying life.

Pique on facing Espanyol and Real Madrid

"I've had as much money as Espanyol's entire budget for a while now," Pique explained in an interview with YouTube star Jordi Wild.

"I like going to Espanyol's ground more than Real Madrid's, so I was happy when Espanyol got promoted because I get to go and play there.

"I like entering the pitch, being whistled at, then you laugh and they get even more pissed off, there's nothing like that in the world, I'd say it's better than sex.

"I enjoy it a lot more than against Real Madrid. It's a pent-up anger, a resentment for years. The fans at Real Madrid are posher and they're do-gooders.

Pique suffered due to national team abuse

Some of Pique's matches in Madrid were with the Spanish national team, but he was often whistled despite playing for the home side.

"I suffered for the team because they didn't deserve that," Pique continued.

"As for me, personally I would say that it made me play better, it motivated me.

"I've experienced this since I was a kid, it didn't bother me."

A day in the life of Gerard Pique

Reflecting on his daily routine, he discussed how he plays an active role in his children's lives.

"I get up at 08:00, I take the kids to school and then I arrive at the training facility by around 09:30," he described.

"We train at 11:00, we have lunch there and from then onwards everyone starts what they want to do.

"Normally, I go to the office, I have the Kosmos thing, I'm there until 17:00 to 18:00 and then I come home and do the family life, until I put the kids to bed. I then either go out for dinner or eat at home."

Pique's relationship with Pep Guardiola

Asked about his former coach Pep Guardiola, Pique revealed they recently met up.

"I met him in Abu Dhabi and we went for a coffee, I've always had a very close relationship with Pep," he added.

"There are moments of ups and downs. The first three years were a bed of roses but the last one was brutal, I'm sure it was also my fault.

"You don't know why things start to go wrong, relationships start to go sour. It was a very complicated year on a person level.

"I will always be grateful to him, we have a very good relationship."

Pique discusses his relationship with Bartomeu

The Barcelona defender was roundly criticised for the words of support he gave for the Bartomeu administration during a difficult time at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he has since changed his stance.

"Why am I angry with Bartomeu? Because he lied to me about Barcagate, when the club hired services to criticise players, as he told Lionel Messi and me to our faces that he didn't know anything about it," Pique explained.

"We told him that we accepted that and we expected him to take the appropriate measures. Only then I found out that he did know.

"For him to lie to my face on such a serious matter, I looked like an imbecile by defending him."