Gerard Pique: Alex Ferguson Told Me Barcelona Were The Better Team

Barcelona continue to revel in their triumphant Champions League escapade following their 2-0 win over Manchester United in the final in Rome on Wednesday night.

One of their star defenders throughout the season, Gerard Pique, has gone down into the history books as one of a handful of players to have won back-to-back winner’s medal with two different teams, as he formed part of the Red Devils outfit that won the title last year. But he admitted that this victory was much sweeter.

“There was a lot of tension just before the final. Last year with United, I did not play and I didn’t feel the same kind of intensity,” he told El Periodico.

“I am very happy and very proud to have played and won with this team. There are so many good players and many of them from our youth system.

“To have won the Champions League with seven home-based players, and to win 6-2 at Real Madrid with six, that is immense. And I believe it is something that people value."

The 22-year-old then analysed the match from his point of view.

“The first ten minutes were very complicated and after I was yellow carded for a foul on Cristiano Ronaldo, I thought it was going to turn into a very long game,” he described.

“But we won it. And deservedly so. Ronaldo only had one shot on target. And as for [Lionel] Messi’s goal? How he rose and how he finished!

“Sir Alex Ferguson then congratulated me and he said to me that we were the better side and we deserved to win.

“Now, we have won the treble… something that we have never been able to achieve before. Have I made history? To win two consecutive titles with two different teams? They are two unforgettable experiences that I will treasure when I eventually retire.

“I took the net from the goal as a memorabilia. I will cut it into small pieces and distribute amongst the squad and I’ll place mine on the garden gate. Now, it’s time to enjoy. We can let our guard down for a little bit."

KS Leong, Goal.com