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Gerard Pique Blames Barcelona's Slow Start on 'Not the Best' Pre-Season

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has bemoaned the club's preparations ahead of the 2019-20 campaign and said Ernesto Valverde's squad had "not the best" pre-season this past summer.

The Blaugrana collected their third win of the La Liga season on Tuesday after goals from Antoine Griezmann and Arthur sealed a 2-1 win over Villarreal, although Lionel Messi came off at half-time due to injury.

Barcelona bounced back to winning ways having suffered a 2-0 defeat at Granada in their previous game.

Pique, 32, spoke to reporters after the match and suggested his side have room to improve:

"The pre-season did not help at all to start well in the competition, a lot of travel and little training.