Barcelona star Gerard Pique: Manchester United made a man of me

Gerard Pique, Barcelona (Getty Images)

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Barcelona defender Gerard Pique admits that while he had a hard time adjusting to life in England, he will use what he picked up with Manchester United against them on in the Champions League final on Saturday.

The Spaniard had a four-year spell at Old Trafford where he had to come to terms with the more physical style of game, but he was not Sir Alex Ferguson’s first choice when it came to United’s regular defensive line.

“When I arrived in Manchester, the club put me with a family,” he told News of the World

“After a few days I had an idea of what was in store for me: cakes or fish and chips.

“Once they served up this warm lemon cake – disgusting. Still, I never regretted my choice because my time in England made a man of me.

“It was another way of playing, more direct and physical. I learned how to use my body to defend with because players often came through you from behind.

“I then worked out like never before and put on nine kilos in muscle.”

The 24-year-old was snubbed for the Red Devils’ Champions League final in Moscow against
Chelsea but he lifted the same trophy a year later after returning with the Catalans by defeating Manchester United 2-0 in Rome.

Ahead of the clash at Wembley, Pique compared current boss Pep Guardiola’s coaching style to Ferguson’s.

He said: “They both have the ability to motivate sides, although Guardiola speaks more calmly while Ferguson will try to harangue his troops.”