Luis Enrique denies Pique deliberately picked up yellow card

By foxsports
Published

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has denied Gerard Pique deliberately picked up a yellow card against Arsenal to avoid missing the latter stages of the Champions League.

The former Manchester United defender went over to the Barcelona bench to speak to manager Luis Enrique before being booked for a foul on Danny Welbeck - his third caution in the Champions League this season.

Pique will be suspended for the second leg, but then his slate will be clean from the quarter-finals onwards.

Enrique insisted after the game that the yellow card was not a pre-planned tactical move and Pique posted on Twitter to suggest similar.

"It was a pity. It always hurts to miss a Champions League game," he wrote.