FOOTBALL – Gerard Piqué is no longer there, and this is very bad news for FC Barcelona

On August 19, Ronald Koeman left the bench of a Dutch selection in full rebirth to sit on that of FC Barcelona then hardly shining. And it is clear that the 57-year-old coach has not really been spoiled since his arrival. From Lionel Messi’s initial ambitions to the wait for a presidential election which could cost him his post, through the delicate management of the Antoine Griezmann case and, above all, results which are at least disappointing, the Batavian technician is walking on a wire. He is also not spared by the blows of fate, the latest being the injury of Gerard Pique.

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Released on time against Atlético Madrid on Saturday (1-0), the Catalan defender suffers from a ligament sprain in his right knee, with partial injury. The duration of his unavailability has not been communicated, but it may well be counted in months. Admittedly, the Spanish international was not flawless since the start of the season, far from it. Until then, its performance was also rather average. After all, the most disillusioned butt fans will probably say they don’t expect more from a player on the decline for a while now.

It is nonetheless indisputable that the prolonged absence of Pique is very bad news for Barça. First of all because there is only one central defender of suitable profession in the workforce, namely Clément Lenglet. Samuel Umtiti and Ronald Araujo are still in the infirmary, as is Sergio Busquets, who is capable of playing in this position. As for Frenkie de Jong, who sometimes helps out at the hinge, he was left to rest for the trip to Kiev on Tuesday (9 p.m.).

In Ukraine, Koeman should align the young Oscar Mingueza (21), a pure product of Masia, alongside Lenglet. Beyond this urgently prepared European deadline, however, there is the question of replacing the 33-year-old player for the medium or even the long term. Will it be necessary to recruit a new stopper during the next winter transfer window? Perhaps, on the condition, however, that you do so with necessarily limited financial leeway. Repatriating Eric Garcia or Jean-Clair Todibo, respectively loaned to Manchester City and Benfica Lisbon, is also possible.

It’s a fact, Gerard Piqué therefore leaves a gaping hole in the Barcelona rearguard. But also a big void in the Blaugrana locker room. He is, with Messi and Busquets, one of the last survivors of great Barça, the one who has put Europe at his feet three times in seven years (2009, 2011, 2015) and collected the titles in La Liga. His experience at the highest level and his aura make him an indisputable leader, who is not afraid to take his responsibilities vis-à-vis the media. His shattering statements at the end of the debacle suffered against Bayern Munich last August (8-2) could attest to this.

The man with 553 matches in the red and blue jersey is, therefore, as much the guarantor of a secular institution as an essential pillar within the Blaugrana workforce. His role is undoubtedly even more valuable in times of strong turbulence, like that which the current twelfth of the Spanish league is going through. Koeman will have to resolve to do without him. And he has no reason to be happy about it, quite the contrary.