In the attached article, Gerard Pique, FC
Barcelona and the Spanish national team's central defender, discusses his
career, home life, and connection to FC Barcelona. As a child, Pique and his
parents frequently attended FCB matches and eventually became a member of the
club's youth program. It was here that he began playing with legends like
Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas. While he spent four years playing for
Manchester United in the Premier League, he later returned home to his beloved
club, FCB, and has been playing there ever since. When describing Catalonia’s
relationship with the club he explains, “we (Catalonia) are really small and
Barcelona is an instrument to show to the world that we are good at a lot of
things”. The club is an obvious source of pride for Catalans and for Pique
himself.
Undoubtedly, FC Barcelona is a worldwide
powerhouse when it comes to football, thus attracting top players from across
the globe. Unlike many of its players, Pique was born in Barcelona and has
grown up around the club. This homegrown loyalty urges the following question:
is the perception of FCB as “més que un club” universally embraced by its
players or just by those who have a personal connection to the club? How do you
think foreign players of FCB feel about such a motto?
Article and photo source: http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/season/2013-2014/pique-speaks-to-cnn-about-his-past-present-and-future
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ReplyDeleteI believe that every player on FC Barcelona each his his own opinion on the motto of more than a club in relation to the Catalan pride. Some players like Pique probably take pride in that motto while other foreign players do not care, but would never speak against it.
ReplyDeleteGarrett Closs
I think that "more than a club" can be interpreted in multiple ways. For Pique, playing for his home- his people, brings so much pride and honor. Additionally, the motto reflects the unity among teammates. For players such as Neymar or Messi, FC is not where they are from. They do not have the same Catalan pride as Pique, but they value the brotherhood among friends and teammates. I think that FC Barcelona is unique in the close relationships between teammates, and constant encouragement from fans.
ReplyDeleteAndie Parento