Pique makes Barcelona confession after losing 'the best player of all time'

Despite sealing a solid 3-0 win over Juventus on Sunday, Gerard Pique and Barcelona were still reeling from the loss of Lionel Messi.

Gerard Pique has admitted Lionel Messi’s departure has cost Barcelona ‘magic in the attack’ and left the squad ‘a bit broken’.

Just hours after Messi’s emotional farewell press conference on Sunday, Barcelona recorded a 3-0 win over Juventus. Memphis Depay, Martin Braithwaite, and Riqui Puig were on target. The victory sealed a 43rd Joan Gamper Trophy, but it did little to erase the sorrow from an eventful day.

Now Pique, who played the full 90 minutes at Camp Nou, has conceded hopes aren’t high ahead of the new season.

“The team was honestly a bit broken because of Messi’s departure,” said the veteran defender as per Goal.

“We will lose magic in the attack, but we have to move forward. The fans expect a lot from us.

“We lose the best player of all time. It has hurt us and it hurt him too. I don’t know the whole story, the two parties have said that it has been a matter of numbers… The management of the last years hasn’t helped, but history shows that we will get up.

“People really want to come to the stadium and we have to cheer the fans. We have to start winning and give them nice things. We need the fans with us.”

Barcelona begin the post-Messi era next Sunday in their opening game of the new La Liga season against Real Sociedad at Camp Nou.