Barcelona legend Gerard Pique has extended words of encouragement to the club’s star, Pau Cubarsi, ahead of the Blaugrana’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match against Atletico Madrid next Tuesday.
Earlier this Wednesday Hansi Flick’s team suffered a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou during the first leg.
Following Pau Cubarsi’s red card in the 44th minute, Julian Alvarez opened the scoring for the visitors with a well-placed free-kick. In the second half, Alexander Sorloth increased his team’s advantage against the Catalans in the 70th minute.
Cubarsi, who was shown a straight red card for a last-minute foul on Giuliano Simeone, took to Instagram to acknowledge his lack of discipline.
The 19-year-old centre-back expressed in his social media post, “One action determines the match and the tie. That’s football, and I accept responsibility for the outcome. There is still a long way to go in this two-legged tie, and we are more united than ever: we are a family, and we have always demonstrated that. Moving forward, with hard work and determination, we will never give up.”
Pique, who secured nine La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League trophies with Barcelona from 2008 to 2022, remarked,” “With your head held high, kid. You’ll smash these guys on your way back.”
Cubarsi, who is set to play in his team’s La Liga match against Espanyol on Saturday, has been a crucial starter for Flick’s squad this season. He has made 39 starts out of 42 appearances across all competitions for the Catalans, scoring once in a 2-1 La Liga defeat to Girona.
With Cubarsi unavailable for selection against Atletico Madrid on April 14, Flick is expected to give Ronald Araujo a starting position in the forthcoming Champions League match. He may also opt to reposition Eric Garcia deeper and start either Fermin Lopez or Gavi in the midfield.