Pique aiming for another Barca treble

08 February 2013 17:46

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique believes his side are well-placed to repeat their treble-winning success of the 2008/09 season come the end of the campaign.

The Catalans won the Champions League, Spanish Cup and La Liga titles in Pep Guardiola's first season in charge and Pique thinks Tito Vilanova could do the same after taking over from Guardiola in the summer.

"I think we're in a good position to lift all three trophies," he told Fifa.com.

"We've got ambition, desire and talent, which in general are the ingredients you need for victory. I think that, in the Copa del Rey, Champions League and La Liga, we've shown the kind of level that makes us believe we can be champions."

Vilanova hasn't been able to attend games in recent weeks as he has travelled to New York for cancer treatment on his salivary gland, but Pique has admired how he has handled the pressure of taking over from Guardiola.

"Tito is doing a great job. He's not doing any more or less than Pep -- he's simply doing what he did, and adding his own touch. The team is performing superbly and the transition has been seamless."

Pique also admitted that he is enjoying the success Barca have become accustomed to even more this season after a tricky spell at the beginning of the last campaign.

The Spanish international was dropped on a number of occasions by Guardiola as he struggled with his fitness and form, but he says Spain's success at the Euro 2012 proved to be a turning point for him.

"My injuries wouldn't let me perform to the level I wanted, and disrupted my continuity in the team.

"The Euros gave me a lot of breathing space and the team played very well defensively, which served as a platform for this season. I've come back strong and motivated, and the team is playing superbly too, which always helps."

Source: AFP