Pique: Barca's pre-season hasn't helped us & Messi's injury is a setback

Barcelona's pre-season took them all over the world, but Gerard Pique thinks it's had a negative impact on their start to the 2019/20 LaLiga Santander season.

The Catalans travelled more than most sides, first going to Japan before heading off to the United States, and they've been underwhelming since the season got underway.

"The pre-season hasn't helped us," Pique said after the win over Villarreal.

"There were a lot of trips. But we're Barcelona and have no excuses.

"We have to win. The result today was very good."

And Pique speaks in the mixed zone and thinks that Messi will miss, at least, next Saturday's match in Getafe: “Messi's injury is a setback and we hope he will be the shortest possible time off."

"It is not easy sometimes to change things, but we talked about it and today it has been shown by pressing up and scoring two goals fast, Now we have to do it in Getafe, which would help us get back up again. We have to win.” said the Catalan. 

Pique was sympathetic to the fans of Suarez. “I understand that the fans have their opinion and express it, but it would not give it more importance, we players are also people and we would like to win all matches by 4 or 5 to zero, but you can't always”.

He also came out in Valverde's defense. “When things don't go well, we're the footballers, just like when they go well, there are players who do not yet have the form, others who have discomfort, but it is Barca and there are no excuses”, he added. “I've been here for 11 seasons and we've won eight and another two we compete until the end and I think that this year will be the same.”

Finally, he asked for patience with Ansu. “He is a very young player and we have to find the balance because we want him to be able to give a great performance over the next 10-15 years".