Barcelona defender, Gerard Pique has said Philippe Coutinho must be a man and take the jeers coming his way from Barca fans in his stride, but still tipped the Brazilian to come good.
Philippe was booed by some fans of the Spanish giant when he got subbed off for Ivan Rakitic in the second half of Barca’s 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano yesterday.
The former Liverpool player started getting benched for Ousmane Dembele but started the Rayo clash so the Frenchman could rest ahead of a UCL week.
Pique said, “Philippe is having a good season,”
“Obviously, he cost a lot and that means there are higher expectations surrounding his performances. It is what it is. You have to accept the reaction of the fans because at the end of the day they’re our supporters, you have to respect [their opinion].
“We — his teammates and people at the club — have to give him all the support in the world. We need him at his best in the final stage of the season and I’m sure he will be.”
Barca coach, Ernesto Valverde also said, “We’re at a club where there’s an incredible demand to win,” the Barca coach said in a news conference. “That’s the case at all clubs, but especially here.
“We don’t have to give [the whistles aimed at Coutinho] too much importance. He was fighting all game to score. We’re always hoping our players are going to pull a rabbit out of the hat, but it’s not always the case.
“Sometimes things come off, sometimes they don’t. But his work rate is there to be seen for everyone. The secret is in persevering.”
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