After missing the previous games of La Furia Roja, Gerard Pique is back to the national team of Spain, who are about to face Albania and Israel in the World Cup qualifiers.
The Barcelona defender has never hidden how proud he is of his Catalan identity and heritage, but that hasn’t stopped him from playing 91 times for Spain’s national team.
I am very happy to return and see if we can win the first game which would qualify us, which is what is important, and be once again in the World Cup finals
Pique told Marca, focusing on the need to get the job done against Albania.
I have always said that to play for the national team is a pride and a great motivation. The fact that the coach has called me up again shows that I am doing things well
the Barcelona defender also said, avoiding commenting on the whole ‘independent Catalonia’ issue, which is extra hot these days, as the Catalans look determined to vote this Sunday on whether or not they want to break away from Spain, in a referendum that has been called illegal by the central Spanish government.
As for Pique, he expressed his hope that things on Sunday will go peacefully, and his compatriots in Catalonia will be allowed to express their opinion on their own future.