Pique sets story straight

Barcelona stopper Gerard Pique has clarified his answers over an interview he recently granted to Sports Illustrated.

Via an interview given to journalist Grant Wahl, the American publication ran quotes of him stating that the upcoming Clasico on Sunday is about more than just a game.

“It is not just football between Barcelona and Real Madrid. There are some politics too,” Pique was supposed to have said.

“For many, Catalunya in Barcelona and Catalonia is a country, ensuring a Catalunya-Spain rivalry on the pitch and explaining the reason behind so much tension and fighting.”

The 25-year-old has now taken to his official Twitter account, however, to point out the misinterpretation of his quotes.

“What people want is to create more tension just before the Clasico,” Pique revealed on the social networking site.

“I just said that Barcelona-Madrid is often more associated with Catalunya-Spain, and this should not be so. It’s just a football game.”

Former club president Joan Laporta had earlier revealed to Goal.com the political tension that comes with every match between the historic rivals.

Pique is presently in a race against time to prove himself fit for the match on Sunday, with coach Tito Vilanova hinting that he would be available in the starting line-up.