Pique slams bankrolled Real Madrid

In statements to 'La Gazzetta dello Sport', Gerard Piqué accused Real Madrid of financing its signings thanks to its relations with a financial institution: "I've read that Madrid has spent €1.2 billion since 2002. We've spent money as well, but we don't have Bankia."

"We have Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Valdés, Busquets, Pedro... a generation that cost nothing. That's our key to competing with Madrid. We've bought Ibra, Villa, Neymar, but one a year. We don't do what they did, not having won anything for a season, and sign Bale, Illarramendi, Isco..."

The centre back also talked about the atmosphere within the squad after the illnesses of Tito Vilanova and Eric Abidal: "We're men, not machines: everything we've been through with Abi and Tito has taken its toll on us. There was sadness, concern, uncertainty."

He also gave his view on what Barcelona achieved by winning last year's league title: "Historically, Barça didn't win much. Then we started to win everything and now a season with just the league seems, if not mediocre, complicated. I don't see it that way. We're the only team in the world capable of leaving Madrid 15 points adrift without even having a coach. Xavi's comments have been misinterpreted: A team which doesn't work does not score 100 points in the league."