Gerard Pique speak Barcelona urgently need a win to start their season after taking the lead twice when they draw 2-2 with Osasuna in LaLiga on Sunday.
Youngsters Nico Gonzalez and Abde Ezzalzouli were Barca targets, but Osasuna fought back to El Sadar with goals from David Garcia and Chimy Avila.
Barca are currently unbeaten in three matches under new coach Xavi Hernandez and after being knocked out of the Champions League in midweek, have dropped to 8th place in the table.
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“As Xavi said [after the defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday], a new era is starting and it is important that we start taking points in LaLiga,” Pique told Movistar.
“We go far [of the top four] and the more points we can make up in the coming weeks the better. We played today, but the result was a huge shame.
“Now it’s about winning, winning and winning. We’re in an important situation and it’s urgent that we get back to winning ways.”
Barca, who will play in the Europa League in the new year for the first time in 17 years, are currently five points behind the fourth-placed team. Atlético Madrid and 15 leaders behind Real Madrid, who meet in the Madrid derby later on Sunday (go live on ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET) ..
Pressed about whether simply securing a top-four finish and Champions League place next season is now a target, Pique refuses to set long-term goals,
“The goal now is to think about the next game,” he added. “The only goals are short-term. In the long term, it’s good for the club to have young players playing regularly, but we have to think short-term.”
Coach Xavi said the performance of the teenagers Gavi, 17, Nico, 19 and Abde, also 19, have both positive and negative connotations for Barca.
Gavi, already a full international with Spain, scored Nico’s first goal, with Moroccan winger Abde scoring another impressive first goal for the club after the break leading Ousmane Dembele.
“Abde, Gavi and Nico were phenomenal,” Xavi said in his post-match press conference. “We are lucky with the contribution of young players. It was a great team effort, but it is the young players that make the difference – and that is hard to digest.
“I think it’s a positive and a negative. It’s a positive for the future but also a negative because such young players are not always the standout performers. We have to ask. more from everyone.”
Barca – who missed seven players in the match against Osasuna, including Jordi Alba, Pedal, Ansu Fati and Memphis Depay – now travel to Saudi Arabia for the Maradona Cup on Tuesday against Boca Juniors, with their next competitive game in LaLiga at Camp Nou on Saturday vs. Elche.
