Pique defends Yamal slams Espanyol after coach accuses 17-year-old of diving

Barcelona legend Gerard Pique returned fire to Espanyol manager Manolo Gonzalez, who accused Barcelona players of tending to play-act after Leandro Cabrera was sent off for hitting Lamine Yamal in his stomach. 

Barcelona were crowned LALIGA champions last night after beating their local rivals, Espanyol, on their home ground, the RCDE Stadium, as they did during the 2022/23 season.

Lamine Yamal scored the opener for the Blaugrana minutes after resumption from the break following a cagey first half. 

Espanyol looked likely to equalise, as they were determined to prevent their rivals from winning the league on their ground. That goal took a hit when Cabrera received a red card for hitting Yamal, reducing them to 10 men. Fermin Lopez scored later in the game to clinch a 2-0 win and confirm the title.

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Gonzalez, after the match, accused Yamal of being theatrical in his fall after the hit from Cabrera, sending a shot to Barcelona as he suggested that play-acting it a trait for Blaugrana players.

“For a blow like that to fall to the ground like he did, you have to do it well, eh? We already know that on the other side of the Diagonal, they've been doing the theatrics quite well for years,” he said, per GameReactor.

“You blow on them and they fall fast. It's an action that, hell, we're ruining football. Is it avoidable? Totally, but it's not to fall to the ground, nor to hurt anyone, nor to be sent off."

Piqué, who is infamous for being a provocateur of Barcelona’s rivals has Espanyol has one of his biggest victims, as he was not going to pass on the opportunity to fire back after Manolo's statement. Reacting via social media, he said, "The other side of the Diagonal? Sorry, but it's been years since you left the city. Barcelona is blaugrana. A big hug.”

This is a line Pique has used before, alluding to the fact that a few years ago, Espanyol moved their stadium away from the city of Barcelona, to Cornella, a municipality in the southwestern part of the Barcelona metropolitan area.