Shameful. Disrespectful. Unprofessional. Obsessed.

Just some of the words banded about today after Gerard Pique’s stirring press conference in Barcelona. One not used is 'real'.

That’s exactly what Pique is, on the field and especially so off it. He embodies everything a fan wants in a player and portrays themselves on a game day. While he may come across irritating for an opponent, especially a direct and historical rival such as Real Madrid, if he was one of your own you would be enamoured with his words. He only said what many do on Twitter, and to their friends when watching the game at home. He’s a fan playing for the team he loves, his honesty was refreshing in a game full of anything but.

If Pique was born in Madrid, played for Real Madrid and uttered words this morning representing ‘Madridismo’ the shoe would be firmly on the other foot when it comes to critics in the Spanish capital. In fact, he only echoed words that Guti, an idol at the Bernabeu, has done so before. "I always want them to lose.” said the midfielder in 2009. It was akin to Pique’s comment this morning, “When Madrid played against Juventus in the Champions League semi-final, I was wearing a Buffon shirt”.

Is there really anything wrong with this? No, there isn’t. Unless you are a hypocrite, or simply over-sensitive. This is sport; the aim is to win, and you want your rival to lose. This isn’t an earth shattering revelation that Pique has offered up this morning, he simply represents the views of many Barça fans out there. Is he obsessed? Maybe so. But are you telling me as a fan, you don't look at your rivals result after that of your own team?

In a period when the player is becoming more and more distant from the fan, it’s enthusing to see such honesty. Pique may earn millions a year, but it hasn’t removed him from the feeling he had as a child, or a young man growing up watching games in the stands at Camp Nou. "Before Atletico Madrid, I told Iker [Casillas] that hopefully he'd concede four. He did, and we still laugh about that comment."

If you find issue with that, if it doesn’t raise at least a wry smile - it did even more for Casillas - then sport probably isn't for you. 

The same goes for the hypocrisy in the media today attacking Pique for his words, yet these are the same people that fuel a fire every few times a season for El Clasico. Pique has embraced exactly what they encourage, yet he is being vilified for it. Where is the professionalism and integrity in that?

Pique’s had a rough week or so given the latest episode of booing while on International duty with Spain. Sergio Ramos only increased the the tension with words Pique has regarded as “said in haste” this morning. 

The downturn in which has coincided with Spain as a collective, it’s not an individual issue. Pique was an integral member of Spain’s winning sides in 2010 and 2012 at the World Cup and European Championships respectively, it’s funny that this is barely remembered in the current environment, where a throwaway remark about a reggaeton singer is given more focus than what occurs on the field. In one of the most ridiculous media storms of recent times, Pique's comment about Kevin Roldan was given far too much space. Pique's own magnificent season, restoring himself as one of the best defenders on the planet, has hardly been spoken of.

It's the culture to highlight the negative over the positive, but that owes much to the fact many are incapable of analyzing a game and instead dissect soap operas.

The game needs Pique and more like him - it doesn't need the frauds that surround him.