"In the end, it all comes down to the colour of the shirt," Gerard Pique said, neatly summing up many things ... if not the thing he was actually talking about.
Summing up many things and setting fire to many others, igniting the league, as if it needed igniting. Spain had played, one of Europe's biggest stadiums packed full, so it was all about them. "Them" being Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, of course. International week was accompanied day after day by front pages about future signings, all club and not much country, and played out to the tune of that eternal battle. Madrid-Barca, Barca-Madrid.
Spain had just beaten France in Paris, wearing white. Barcelona's Pique and Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos, who love to wind each other up (and everyone else with them), had played superbly well together, which they often do. With these two men, it's easy to imagine them on the phone working out just what stunt they're going to pull next,. They were in a playful mood, which they often are.
Ramos was tickled by the sight of Pique in white (Real Madrid's jersey color) and told him so. Barcelona's former kit man liked to tell the story of the time, years ago now, that they were forced change tracksuit tops they'd worn in a warm-up because the fans were revolting. Pique, of course, had a word back. And when Spain won -- with two refereeing decisions going their way after being referred to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system -- the editor of one national paper admitted much when he admitted that he liked the call for technology as it helped the official get two decisions right "and because it favoured us." Then Pique had another word.
Asked if he liked the introduction of technology, which led to a goal for France being disallowed and a goal for Spain being allowed, Pique said, yes, it would help. He also said, a glint in his eye, mischief on his mind: "It all comes down to the colour of the shirt. It comes down to wearing white." The implication was clear; coming from Pique, it wasn't especially surprising. And so the journalists who cover Spain pushed him. If it was a joke, he was also a lorry load of nitroglycerin, as El Pais put it.
"I don't have any problems with Madrid's players", Pique said. "What I don't like are the values they transmit, the people who are in their directors' box at games and how they pull the strings in this country. That's the only thing I don't like. The lady [state attorney Marta Silva Lapuerta] who charged Neymar and [Lionel] Messi and who treats Cristiano Ronaldo differently sits next to [Madrid president] Florentino Perez and no pasa nada. That's this country."
"Strings are pulled in every directors' box, and if there's anyone who shouldn't be talking about referees right now it's Barcelona," Ramos replied when he appeared. "Pique just looks better in white and he can't bring himself to say so. We ended our [Paris] jinx in this colour. Pique can't change Real Madrid's history or the titles we have won and he can't make us go back in time. He should wear white more often -- he looks good in it."
"My relationship with Ramos is very good," Pique insisted. "This is a show. People take it too seriously and let things get out of hand. We wind each other up, but we respect each other."
He was right about one thing at least: People did take this very, very seriously. But, he insisted, this is just a show. And the show must go on.
Now, at last, the actual show is going on. Now, everyone can get back to talking about what they were talking about anyway. Now, they can get back to watching it too. No more stops, no more breaks, no more hanging about. The national team out of the way -- which is where so many seem to want it -- and nothing else is in the way. Just a run for the finish. Two teams, two points between them and 10 more games to go. Three of them to be played in the next seven days, the season taking shape and soon.
Both teams have all their players fit and available, so the fear that grips everyone during international week is gone. The "FIFA virus," they call it, but this time it didn't infect anyone. So here they are, these superpowers with massive arsenals. Former manager Luis Aragones was fond of saying that titles are won in the last 10 weeks, not before. And that's where we are now. Sevilla surely slipped from the race at the Calderon a fortnight ago, and the two best teams, with their best players, are ready to restart, ready to sprint for the finish.
It kicks off Sunday with Alaves at the Bernabeu and Barcelona in Granada. It's advantage Madrid. That 10-game countdown is only half-true: Madrid have a two-point lead already, and they have that wind-swept postponed match in hand against Celta de Vigo, a kind of wild card that will be played three days from the end of the season. Like a second chance, if Madrid need it.
Madrid have home advantage too. When they defeated Athletic Bilbao, there was a sense that even if they had not always convinced, they had just won the last of the really difficult away trips (Celta aside, and that may well feel very different by then). Madrid go away to five of the bottom six, and while that is usually difficult as the season reaches desperation point, there's a chance that relegation may be resolved early. They must still face Atletico and Barcelona, sure, but both of those will be at the Bernabeu. As will the meeting with Sevilla.
Even if Madrid were to lose the Clasico, they could win the league. A draw would probably suit them very nicely. It is no longer in Barcelona's hands. They go there knowing that; they also go there having had a day's less rest from the Champions League quarterfinals. It is an opportunity, but it is also an obligation. And they know that.
In fact, there may be a hint in Pique's words, in his complaints about the referees, in the turning of attention from the pitch to the directors' box, that along with the complaints he has about what he has seen (or thinks he has seen) so far, there is a hint of what he fears he will see next. He knows there is a strong chance that Barcelona will not win the league -- and for a team that has won six of the past eight titles, that hurts. Perhaps it hurts Pique most of all, worse even than wearing white.
Whatever happens, Pique will have something to say. Ramos probably will too.