Journalist explains Lopetegui’s version of Pique ultimatum – ‘It’s a lie’

Gerard Pique was in the news again this weekend after he told of a cathartic event, in which Spain captain Sergio Ramos and then manager Julen Lopetegui asked him to publicly apologize after the 1-O referendum in Catalonia. Lopetegui has told the press his side of events, although he has not discussed them publicly himself.

The West Ham United manager was declared 'indignant' when he heard Pique's version of events. Pique told how Lopetegui and Ramos took him aside in the Spanish camp after the illegal referendum, in which the Spanish police retaliated against the peaceful Catalan people and beat them in polling stations. The Basque manager is said to have asked him to apologize for his position on the matter and to hold a press conference where he would read out a statement handed to him by Lopetegui.

The Basque manager has told Cadena Cope's Elias Israel that the incident Pique is referring to took place around nine months later, before the 2018 World Cup. Lopetegui's version of events is that they asked Pique to publicly comment on the matter and appeal to do on national unity in the interest of the team, to which Pique replied that he would rather give a press conference. Lopetegui did not stand in his way. Israel also noted that Lopetegui will not publicly challenge Pique.

Until either story is confirmed, it will be difficult to confirm which story is more accurate. It would make Lopetegui's version a little more credible if he spoke out publicly, but at a delicate time in his West Ham tenure it is understandable that he might not want to get embroiled in a war of words in the press.