Wednesday quotes: Pique not offended by chants at Sol

More interesting quotes in today’s roundup. You may have noticed more and more of these late-night ‘notes & quotes’ posts which may or may not continue; but chances are if I have time to post them and there are interesting quotes from current, former, or other team’s players who have something Real Madrid related to say, I’ll try my best to round them up for you here.

Today’s marshalling includes some quotes from Pique, Clarence Seedorf (on his time with Real Madrid), and Frank Lebeouf (insisting that Zidane will coach the French National Team).

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Pique says he’s spoken to Carvajal after the ‘Pique, cabron, saluda al campeon’ chants at Sol...

"No, I'm not offended at all," Pique said.

"No one from Madrid has to apologise to me. I have already spoken to Dani and it is all fine.

"It is totally normal, they were happy at winning the league and that is that – they had to celebrate."

He also spoke about the importance of bringing in VAR next season...

"If we're not champions, it's because we got fewer points than Madrid," Pique said.

"I'm sure that you can do a lot of assessments of the referees. The conclusion from this LaLiga season is that VAR is essential.

"They should establish the necessary measures to bring it in. LaLiga hasn't been up to standard. I said that in a match and they fined me, but they told me why and they continued at the same level.

"The more help they have, the better it will be for them."

Clarence Seedforf, in an exclusive interview with FourFourTwo, answered some questions about Real Madrid. He confirms that he turned down Real Madrid at the age of 15...

“Yes, Real Madrid were after me and it was me who turned them down. It was a decision I was fully part of. I was happy at Ajax, and more importantly, I had to finish school. That was the reason I turned Real down. School first, football later. At 15, that made sense, wouldn’t you say?”

On his fondness of Real Madrid...

“I have very pleasant memories of Madrid, where I spent three fantastic years. There is still a feeling of mutual affection between Madrid, Spain and I. The differences between Serie A and La Liga? If I had to outline them, I’d say in Spain beautiful play and ball possession counts for more than the result, but in Italy it is the exact opposite, because winning is the thing that counts the most. Milan are a good combination of beauty and the result.”

On ranking El Clasico among other rivalries...

“I couldn’t pick. I saw Chelsea vs Arsenal at Stamford Bridge last season, but there is nothing like Milan vs Inter or Real vs Barcelona, which are from a different world. Atletico vs Real Madrid, also, was highly charged, but not like the game with Barça. And I’d add Juventus vs Inter to the list. The atmosphere you feel from the crowd in these games is like no other, and it influences you down on 
the pitch, believe me.”

On what it was like playing for Fabio Capello...

I know that to you guys in the UK he is seen as being a bit severe, and maybe, in the nicest sense of the word, it is true. Fabio is a great coach who knows how to manage a group in a serious way. But when the time is right he can have a joke. There is a difference between acting serious and being serious. I owe Capello a lot and will always have him in my heart. I bumped into him at the Chelsea vs Arsenal game and it was a pleasure to see him again and to give him a hug.

Former French defender, Frank Leboeuf, says the French National Team job is all Zidane’s if he wants it in the future...

"I don't know when [current France boss Didier] Deschamps will decide, or when the federation will decide to get rid of him, but we all feel that Zidane will be the next national coach," Leboeuf told BBC.

"That is, if he wants to, because if he carries on being successful with Real Madrid then he won't take the job even if the seat is free.

"It's very hard to stay as Real Madrid coach for a long time, Mr Perez is very impatient. When it's possible, Zidane will join the national team, that's for sure."

"It seems that when Zinedine Zidane touches something, it becomes golden.

"When Real Madrid decided to name him as head coach, he came into the dressing room as the guy who won the World Cup and had worked hard for the club and won the Champions League with a fantastic volley in Glasgow [in 2002], so he had the respect of the dressing room.

"But I think his work alongside Ancelotti as an assistant, and then his work in charge of the reserve team, gave him enough experience to get into the job."