Gerard Pique Is Doing Nothing Wrong by Fuelling Rivalry with Real Madrid

There have been several ongoing themes in La Liga this season: Barcelona lifting trophies, Rafa Benitez being criticised by the Madrid press and fanbase, managers being sacked (nothing new there) and—laughably for some; infuriatingly for others—Gerard Pique taunting and being abused in different ways in return.

The Spanish centre-back has a history in recent years of, shall we say, not quite being on best terms with outsiders from the club, but this campaign has seen the antagonistic behaviour step up a notch on both sides.

It's seen by some as the defender going beyond what is acceptable, but, for others, it's simply sticking two fingers up at those who are jealous or have no humour.

In truth, though, all it boils down to is a rivalry, not of Pique's making but of his making public, and there is no real reason why he should tone it down—especially for the benefit of those outside the club.

You started it

The ongoing situation with Pique has stemmed from his own words plenty of times, and the defender shows no remorse when considering the retaliations he receives in return.

Barcelona's first choice in the back four vaguely poked fun at Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of last season to reignite the Real-Barca feud, and he has already had more than a few words to say about Los Merengues this year.

Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

Real Madrid right-back Alvaro Arbeloa called Pique "obsessed" with the capital club after the infamous tweet the Barcelona man sent following the Copa del Rey farce, when Real played a suspended Denis Cheryshev and got themselves thrown out of the competition.

"

😂😂😂😭😭😭😂😂😂

— Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) December 2, 2015"

Pique responded by suggesting Arbeloa wasn't a friend of his, and he didn't much care what the reserve had to say—which led to Sergio Ramos getting involved, saying Pique should respect Real's players.

Bizarrely, Esteban Granero—a twice-didn't-make-it former Real Madrid midfielder who also flopped at QPR and now plays a mediocre role in a hit-and-miss Real Sociedad midfield—decided to get involved, telling Pique to forget his own complexes and respect his superiors.

"

Piqué, por favor, olvida ya los complejos y respeta a tus superiores. pic.twitter.com/3bDZl4RI63

— Esteban Granero (@eGranero11) December 12, 2015"

Naturally, Pique had a response for that, too—it's a wonder he didn't post a photo with his own three Champions League medals.

"

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 #paramissuperiores

— Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) December 20, 2015"

For those criticising the Barcelona man, where was the same for Arbeloa or Granero? In fact, why did the former QPR man attempt to get involved at all?

Whether any words should have been exchanged at all or not, Pique couldn't be admonished for replying to someone in the same manner as they initially referred to him.

Spain

It's not only on the domestic scene that Pique has faced opposition, either.

On the international stage, if anything, the situation is even more bizarre. After decades of underachievement by the Spanish national team, Pique has played a huge role in one of the most successful teams of all time—winning the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.

Now, however, he is routinely booed by his own fans in international fixtures, with Goal.com's Ben Hayward suggesting: "Pique has also antagonised some Spain fans (and media) with his open support for a poll on Catalan independence and his decision to express himself on social media in his native language."

JOSE JORDAN/Getty Images

The match between England and Spain was moved from Madrid to Alicante to avoid confrontational scenes between the home "support" and the defender, per Pete Jenson of the MailOnline. 

The friendly fixture ended with the unusual occurrence of the visiting fans singing support for Pique, while those wearing Spain's red in the crowd continued with their jeers.

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique called it pathetic, Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has asked for it to stop and Spain boss Vicente del Bosque doesn't believe it affects the atmosphere within the squad—this is purely something from the fans, between the fans and which the fans themselves need to get over.

Pique says he doesn't care—but the Spanish Football Federation will talk things through with the player to ensure the situation doesn't get further out of hand, according to J.F. Diaz of Marca.

Rivalry

Hands up who hasn't berated a friend or family member for their team losing an "easy" game or joked with them that their best player will be sold? Very few football fans on the entire planet, most likely. 

Why? Because rivalry is part of the game, and some people will naturally take almost as much pleasure from their rivals' moments of disappointment as from their own team's successes.

One of the biggest complaints from onlookers about the game now is how—despite more media coverage than ever—opinions from within the game are watered down.

Every pre- or post-game interview from players can almost be typed up in advance: "We respect the opposition...it'll be a tough game...we'll work hard...they're a good side...hopefully we can come away with the three points."

It's dull, standard fare for the most part because what we really want to hear from the players when top plays bottom is something along the lines of: "If both teams play to their recent levels, we should win this about 6-0."

When River Plate play Boca Juniors, Manchester City face United, or Schalke line up against Borussia Dortmund, do supporters want to hear appreciation of how good their most hated rivals are?

Or would they perhaps prefer to hear someone say: "I want them to lose."

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

New levels of ridiculous public-relations exercises were reached in world football a few seasons ago when Wayne Rooney infamously remarked he "hated" Liverpool, per the Guardian—as a Manchester United hero and an Everton supporter, why wouldn't he? He was forced to apologise for his remarks. Why? Would anyone believe he liked one of his biggest rivals?

You can respect a club and its achievements without having anything approaching a like for it.

Fans don't worry about blurring the lines between supporting their own side and having an outrageous bias against rival clubs, so why on earth should players be expected to tone down their own feelings?

Of course, it can be taken too far. Storming the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of rival supporters after scoring can incite crowd trouble in the heat of the moment. Violent or physical abuse has no place in football, regardless of the rivalry involved. But a few words, a tweet, a forthright explanation that you like one club and therefore don't like another?

Come on.

Without huge rivalries between clubs—in the Sunday leagues, the high schools or the European stage—football becomes just another pastime akin to watching a television series or walking the pet dog: It's something to talk about and enjoy, but lacking the intensity and passion that transcends language or location to make the world's greatest game exactly what it is.

Pique is doing nothing different to what a million others do every single day at work, at school or at home—he just has a bigger platform to shout his taunts and laughter from...and infinitely more reason to do so.

Success Talks

Ultimately, while Pique and Barcelona are continuing to win trophies, he is going to celebrate it—and the fact that other teams are not. And there's no reason for him to stop.

There's a line, of course, between celebrating your own successes and only pointing at the failings of others, but that's not the case here.

Indeed, Pique's words, per BBC Sport, show no intent to calm the issue when asked about whether he had any remorse over such statements made previously:

"

I won't change regarding club rivalry. I always wish Real Madrid to do badly. I don't regret anything that I have said and I would repeat it a thousand times and more. I am like that, I want Madrid to always lose. That is the sporting rivalry that has always existed in Spain.

"

In Spain, and everywhere else.

It's made more public now with social media and is fanned by the moral outrage which spreads quickly online, but in reality, Pique is doing nothing wrong off the pitch, and everything right on it.

Real Madrid fans and those from other clubs who wish Barcelona less success simply have to live with it.

Follow @karlmatchett