Barcelona captain appears to take a dig at the coaching staff during Inter Milan clash

In a tunnel footage from the half-time break during the clash between Barcelona and Inter Milan, veteran defender Gerard Pique appears to be criticising the coaching staff immediately after instructions were passed on to the team by manager Xavi Hernandez.

As reported by SPORT, the 35-year-old veteran, who was handed another start due to the injury issues faced by Barça, seemingly took a shot at the club’s staff.

The incident happened during the half-time break, when Xavi warned his defenders to be wary of the long balls from Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana, saying: “You have to go back, you have to go back.”

Seconds later, in the tunnel, Pique seems to be questioning the coaching staff’s instructions as he has been spotted saying something along the lines of “If some of them say something, and others say another thing…”

Just five minutes into the second half, Xavi’s warnings would come true as Pique was caught out by a long ball from Alessandro Bastoni, allowing Nicolo Barella to pounce and score to make it 1-1. The match eventually ended 3-3, leaving Barça on the brink of elimination.

Pique has been at the centre of the criticism received by the team for the performance against Inter, with the club’s board also displeased with the veteran defender’s display.

A colossus in defence for years, Pique has fallen down the pecking order at Spotify Camp Nou this season. One of the four club captains, the centre-back is essentially fifth-choice under Xavi, but is getting a run in the side due to injuries to other central defenders.

There has been talk of possibly selling the 35-year-old as early as the January window, with president Joan Laporta not ruling out the possibility of transfers in the winter.

For now, the focus shifts to El Clasico at the Bernabeu tomorrow and it will be interesting to see whether Pique makes the starting lineup against Real Madrid.

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