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Gerard Pique defends Gerardo Martino

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique defends under-fire head coach Gerardo Martino.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has insisted that head coach Gerardo Martino is not to blame for the club's struggles this season.

The Catalan outfit were knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals by Atletico Madrid earlier this month, before losing the final of the Copa del Rey to Real Madrid.

Martino's side are also four points off the pace in La Liga, but Pique has thrown his support behind the under-fire Argentine.

"There are no excuses, we haven't performed as well as desired and we're the first to take the blame. But we all have to look at ourselves," Pique told reporters.

"I think that Martino is not to blame at all for what has happened this season. He came in at the last minute and he has worked hard.

"We're Barca and we'll always be fighting fit. It hasn't been our best season, but we'll pick ourselves up. The future is exciting and we'll make it a success. I trust the people who run the club, we have a great squad."

Pique is currently on the sidelines with a pelvic injury.

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Barcelona's Brazilian defender Adriano Correia celebrates his goal during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on February 15, 2014
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves134181422-813
17Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179
20Valencia11146817-97


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