[Saba Sports News] Shortly after Real Madrid suffered a shocking defeat to Alavés in the Copa del Rey, former Barcelona star Gerard Piqué took a swipe at the Blancos during a live stream. Piqué left a comment in the live chat that read, “3-2, a great debut for Real Madrid under the new manager,” a brief yet heavily sarcastic remark that quickly went viral on social media.
The bad blood between the two traces back to their playing days in the heated El Clásico derbies. Piqué represented Barcelona, while Álvaro Arbeloa was a Real Madrid player, and the pair clashed repeatedly both on the pitch and off. Piqué once openly mocked Arbeloa’s defensive abilities, and now that Arbeloa has tasted defeat in his managerial debut, it has naturally become the perfect material for Piqué’s ridicule. This subtle jab is widely seen as a continuation of their long-standing rivalry.
In our view, Arbeloa stepped into the role on an interim basis already under immense pressure, and this loss has undoubtedly added insult to injury for his managerial career, while also casting doubt on the decision-making of Real Madrid’s management. For Real Madrid, rather than getting bogged down by off-field taunts, the club would be better off facing up to its own problems, speeding up the integration process between the new manager and the team, and silencing the critics with on-field performances.